Girl interrupted

I've been away from home- and from my own computer- for a few days working in Shreveport, so I don't have any fresh new delights right now, buuuuuut I DO want to talk about something that keeps popping up on my radar lately-Style Rookie!


I first found her blog a month or two ago when I was clicking through the links on other blogs I view and thought to myself, "What a precious little creature!" She's 13! Well, I've since spotted her on Style.com on their list of front row faces to look out for this season. And! Upon further googling I found where her blog was featured in the NY Times Magazine last Fall. Geez, good for her, this kid is a superstar already.

Oh, and if you look at that Style.com thing, you may also notice another familiar front row face that I've featured on this blog, Jane from Sea of Shoes. Jealous!

Just for fun, I'd like to finish with something I love but cannot afford, this Preen Matt Lightening Mini Dress. Beautiful!

Fall is just around the bend!

Fall and summer are my favorite seasons to shop for. By the time summer comes, I'm sick of dreary, gray days and ready for bright colors and feeling the sun on my skin. Same idea for fall- but in the reverse, I'm sick of seeing people in booty shorts and am ready to experiment with layers and accessorize with scarves.

If you're like me, you look to runway fashion for ideas in shape, color or texture, but when it comes time to shop your wallet does not actually open for any of those runway items. That being said, I'm going to lay out my 3 Step Process for getting inspiration to take with me to the mall.


Step 1: Check out the runway collections online or through magazine ads and pick out looks that have aspects you like. Maybe even cut them out and make a collage, whatever helps you feel inspired.

When I scoured the fall collections for ideas, one color that kept jumping out at me was this dusty purple that Bottega Veneta and Versace are rocking for the season.

Below are some of the other colors I thought were a refreshing change from the maroons and browns that are traditionally known as "fall" colors.







Step 2: Check around for real world options that remind you of the high fashion pieces you picked.

Below are my picks, from an assortment of sites like J. Crew, Anne Taylor (believe it!) and Banana Republic.



Step 3: Some people may be content to stop at Step 2, but this is where the real bargain huntress in me comes out. Instead of just buying those items I found, I will scour eBay, thrift stores and places like Old Navy and Target for even less expensive versions. Generally I will buy a couple of pricier pieces per season that I know will last, like shoes or a jacket, but try to find shirts, skirts, etc. on the sale racks.

Example: This navy blue shirt is from forever21 for $23.



So that's it! Hope that someone can get some ideas from that.
Happy fall shopping to all!

(Oh, PS- that shoe above is Nine West's Bonfire, it's also available in this reaaaaally great purple color that is not on the Nine West site for some reason, but you can find it here)

Some Current Wants

My four closest friends and I always email each other a wish list when our respective birthdays are approaching. With September just around the corner you'll never guess whose turn it is, mine! Instead of emailing those ladies, I decided to make this year's wishes public, for all to possibly glean ideas from. Here goes nothing.


1. Filigree earrings

I'm really into lace right now, and filigree earrings are meeting my need for that delicate, antique-y thing that lace does for me. Currently I'm trying to buy silver jewelry, and I realize these are gold, but I like them. There are tons of cheap jewelry options like this right now at forever21.
www.forever21.com


2. This book

I don't want to say that everyone who pays attention to fashion knows who the Sartorialist is, but everyone who pays attention to fashion knows who the Sartorialist is. His book just came out, like the pages should still be warm when you get your hands on it. (The paperback version, ladies. The hardcover is a megabucks limited edition kind of thing.)
www.amazon.com




3. A tulip skirt

I'm thinking tulip skirt with colored tights and strappy shoes for fall. Something neutral colored, similar to this one, which is a super duper bargain from charlotte russe for like $20. Yes, I realize that it will fall apart after a few wears, I'll be gentle with it.




4. This tee shirt, I thee wed

This shirt is on saaaaaale right now at Urban Outfitters (.com) and I am loving the houndstooth pattern. I'm even willing to step outside of my color comfort zone to get into this little baby, whom I will christen Orange Julius should he become mine.



5. Key necklace

Every week in the Sunday NY Times, the ad for Tiffany key necklaces reaches out from the page and taps me on the shoulder. I try to look the other way, I really do, but I love those things. They're just the right amount of antiquish charm from grandma's box o jewels to be worn with a cardigan this fall...and for the rest of my life. Fred Flare has a friend-friendly priced version for like $12. Once again, it's gold and I would rather it be silver, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made.
www.fredflare.com




6. Another book, I'm a nerd

Seriously, I've had this book on a list of books I want for at least two years, so I'm just taking this opportunity to throw it out there. It's called Taking Things Seriously by Joshua Glenn and Carol Hayes, can also be found on Amazon.com.




7. Last thing I'm saying... a pashmina-esque scarf

I won't name any names, but someone borrowed the only faux pashmina I have ever owned and did not return it. Every time I've flown since then I've missed that thing, cause they can double as a mini blanket. I don't want a real one, but I do want a real soft one. In a neutral enough color for me, i.e., blue, olive, khaki. If I were a betting girl, I would bet that one of these can be found at TJ Maxx.

Some fall boot options

Once the weather turns cold, my feet are not warm again until summer. I don't know why, but i just cannot keep them warm. It doesn't help that there aren't a lot of good winter shoe options for girls that provide warmth without looking like your Nana's Rockports. This year i'm being proactive...i'm getting some flat boots. The proclamation has been made, the funds have been set aside, now i just need to decide on a pair...

I've searched far & wide, and some of my faves are below. (You may notice there's a theme here with the color. That's only because i want brown ones, rest assured that most of these are available in other colors).




Featured boots:
1. Frye Cindy Slouch
2. Steve Madden Brio
3. Nine West Chavonne
4. Nine West Frollic
5. Nine West Fiddle
6. Jessica Simpson Francilia

Number 6 brings about a question, could i wear a Jessica Simpson shoe? Do you have to be a fan of that celebrity in order to rock things from their line? If someone said, "Hey cool boots! Where did you get those?", would i be embarassed to say, "Err..they're Jessica Simpson." Isn't that a little like, "Hey, have you tried the Burger King tacos?"

It's still up in the air.

i love... tone on tone color!

I thought this Lucky magazine pic was really inspiring, not just because of the tone on tone, but also it's a great way to casual-ize a strapless dress. Who hates buying one for a special occasion and then never wearing it again? Me. This is a fresher idea than just layering with a cardigan or blazer.



I hunted down a few pieces to make my own look... this:


(I love the, ahem, bust detail. And the pockets.)


+ this



+ this




Voila!

Sunset Dress, Urban Outfitters- $58
Tank, Old Navy- $10
Necklace, Forever 21- $13.80

Statement headpiece

Accessories and i have a sordid past. I go through phases where i'm all about them, and then next thing you know i'm shunning them altogether for a minimalist look.
At one point the rage of the moment for me was wearing a belt, and between my friend Kristen and i we had 86,000 of them, my favorite one being- get ready for this- a braided metallic granny belt with the most horrible shiny gold buckle. I also recall a mini-chain belt with ribbon ties, the likes of which would probably be worn by Kupono from SYTYCD.

These days i generally rely on a pair of dangly earrings to dress things up, but at a recent birthday dinner for two of my friends, i decided to trade the big earrings for a bold headband instead- i was pleased with the result!




You can make your own statement with one of these cute headbands from Urban Outfitters ($14.99) or Fred Flare ($14).


photo from UO

photo from fredflare.com

Texas sybarite alert

This girl makes my closet look like the wardrobe for a Sears catalog photo shoot... but I still like her blog. The photos are nice, even if some of her shoe choices confuse me like the Rocky Horror Picture Show confused me the first time I saw it (and probably the last!).


Oh, also her blog was featured in Vogue. There's that, too.



Her site= www.Seaofshoes.com