Sartorial Roadmap

Sartorial Compass: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Lanvin Lover

2012-03-06T07:46:00.000-05:00

If I wasn't entirely certain of my adoration for Maggie Gyllenhaal, she absolutely stole my heart at the 2009 Golden Globes. She chose to step out sporting a floor length, one shoulder, purple and turquoise leopard print Lanvin gown. That was it, I was sold. The laid back draping, and flawless construction suit her, and I don't see her giving up on Lanvin anytime soon, thank goodness.

The. Best. Ever.

I love how she dressed this down with sandals, it looks so comfortable yet pulled together.

Too bad this isn't a full body shot of her in this adorable one shouldered jump suit!!

Yes, this is sartorial compass, yes this is Tuesday, not Sunday, I will do better next week. For now you may spend your time dreaming of how Maggie Gyllenhaal will wear Lanvin once again!

Oscar for Best Dressed...

2012-03-02T07:49:00.000-05:00

Quality is absolutely better than quantity. That's why I couldn't have been more thrilled with the four dresses that wowed me {out of how many?} at Sunday's Academy Awards.

Michelle looked divine in this Louis Vuitton, the peplum, the texture, the color! It was all quite perfect, I was so relieved since her other dresses had been nice, but not stunning. This dress also reminded me of the red Louis Vuitton that Zoe Saldana wore a couple of awards seasons ago.

Emma Stone of all people is one we should call on to pull off a massive neck-bow. She looks gorgeous in this deep pink Giambattista Valli dress, my only qualm with this look was when you saw an up close of her makeup, her eyeshadow was pink...but that's besides the point...best dressed!

IN LOVE with Rooney Mara in this Givenchy. The perfect antidote to her dark tresses, and even darker role.

Shailene Woodley looked effortlessly perfect in Valentino Couture. I love how unexpected it is, a girl under 21 who isn't wearing a sparkly ball gown?!

Of course the evening's honorable mentions are as follows...

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen, Kristen Wiig in J. Mendel, Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford, and last but not least the coolest girl "who runs the world," as Beyonce would say, Meryl Streep in Lanvin!

photos via style.com

Sartorial Compass: Liv Tyler & The Cool Kids

2012-02-27T18:48:00.002-05:00

Perk #1 of being the daughter of a rockstar? You have common ground with another cool kid of a rock star, Stella McCartney. Perk #2 of being the daughter of a rockstar {also a very talented actress, and cool mom}, being pals with other cool kid designers, i.e. Ricardo Tisci of Givenchy and the, getting cooler every passing day, boys of Proenza Schouler. It's been fun rediscovering why I love Liv and her style all month, check out her final installment of Sartorial Compass...

Liv looks pulled together, but not serious in a Swiss dotted Stella dress on the left. Then she goes for crazy {but somehow still classic} in Givenchy's rottweiler sweater with, of course, another blazer. I love that the next look is a beautiful black evening gown at first glance, but she gives some secret leg when you look close enough.

Of course here Liv is looking awesome again, first in Proenza Schouler {one of the coolest, and most flattering dresses of Fall 2012}. The middle two looks are more Givenchy, the gown she wore to this years Met Gala {a far cry from her minimal CK dresses of years past}.

I love that she can pull a Givenchy Haute Couture dress off at one event, and go for a simple black dress and blazer at the next. One thing that is special about many of the Sartorial Compass girls is that they know what they like and they wear it, Liv is the same way. She looks gorgeous in pretty much anything, and I hope to see her around the acting world again soon!! Speaking of acting, stay tuned for an Oscar's round up soon!

Let's Talk Street-Style, NYFW Fall '12

2012-02-25T11:27:00.001-05:00

Fashion month has already taken up residency in Milan, but I'm just now taking inventory of the great street style snaps that came out of New York Fashion Week. Have a look at a few of my favorites!

Red pops like no other! And FYI Solange is BY FAR the coolest Knowles, there I said it.

Miroslava, TTH & Leandra...they are the street style dream team, we obviously can't forget Joanna Hillman {below}.

I dream about jackets with leather sleeves. Just last night at dinner I saw a girl with the perfect one, I seriously considered asking nicely to take it home with me.

DEETS: Love how these shots all fit together. Leandra's red PS1, Miroslava's necklace, sunglasses and vintage Proenza tee...and of course Jenna Lyons with that jacket and neon bag...she. is. so. cute.

I can't help but find inspiration in these photos to mix patterns and go crazy with accessories and textures.

photos via mark iantosca for refinery29, victoria adamson for the cut, and tommy ton for style.com

Odilon: My First Fashion Week Experience

2012-02-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

After lunch a couple of Sunday's ago, I walked with Brandon, over to the Standard Hotel for a look at the Odilon collection. Although the collection was by no means groundbreaking, it was well done and featured a few stand out pieces, and I couldn't stop snapping iPhone pics...

I loved the white on white looks. These pants were amazing, they were cut so well and after staring for a while I realized that they had a wide tuxedo stripe of white-on-white chevron. If somebody had offered, I would have walked out wearing them...

Again with the monochrome, the red pony-hair jacket had me at hello. Overall the collection was wearable, quirky yet wearable.

Lastly I had to throw in a couple of quick snaps of Brandon, {who is launching a new site with her business partner Arlene this March!}, putting in work in printed pants and a Marni collar!

A Birthday Gift

2012-02-20T10:19:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend my blog hit over 5,000 views! Views went over 5,000 on Friday which was a nice early birthday present for me, considering my birthday was yesterday! So thank you for continuing to visit my blog! While you're here, check out some recent instagram images of a few of my favorite things...

Animal themed trinkets {that's right, an armadillo shoe} and gold farm animals.

I expect absolutely no judgement for the Nicholas Sparks books... A few great coffee table books, some novels, and the Joie sign that my Aunt and Uncle gave me years and years ago...all atop a Missoni x Target tray!

A picture frame that houses all of my necklaces, it's both practical and decorative!

Hope you're all having a wonderful President's day!!

Sartorial Compass: Liv Tyler, Minimal Maven

2012-02-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

As we have noticed about Liv, she enjoys classic pieces {a Burberry trench, a blazer in many iterations}. Black may well be her favorite color, though here you'll see that she stuns in white as well. She has a close friendship with Francisco Costa, Creative Director at Calvin Klein, like Sartorial Compass alum, Zoe Saldana, and loves a simple but always chic Calvin Klein dress, gown, jacket etc.

I adore all of the above looks, in particular the two end photos. Such clean, crisp pieces, perfectly suited to Liv and her style {both Calvin Klein}

More Calvin Klein in the two center photos, she wore them to the 2008 and 2007 Met Gala's respectively. She loves a clean line, and who can argue, she wears them so well!

The Blazer That Came Back

2012-02-17T10:09:00.003-05:00

It's always around Fashion Week that I get an extra pep in my step {wherever I may be, Chicago, Holland, Charleston, and now New York}. I get the urge to combine pieces I would have never put together before, and I'm just generally more inspired to create unique looks {a side effect of this is often the desire to shop, or in my case online window shop}. Last week for example, because of this ridiculously warm winter we're having I knew I needed a jacket, but didn't feel like I had anything quite right for the temperature. To the rescue came a J.Crew blazer that I've had for about two years now. I've worn it a few times, but probably not once in the past year...

Last Thursday I finally wore this grey dress from Topshop, first featured in this post layered with a sweater and my favorite army green Madewell vest, and my new birthday booties {featured in the pic below}. One thing I never noticed about this blazer until last week was the great detail on the collar, I loveeee the contrasting materials!

On Sunday I met up with one of my favorite people from TwentyThirtyForty in Chicago. I was able to stop by a presentation with her at the Standard Hotel after {photos to come}, my official first Fashion Week experience! This is what I wore, comfortable for a Sunday but also fun! My sweater is from The Roo Vintage my two years old necklaces from H&M and Urban Outfitters respectively, the rest is J.Crew. The booties are from American Eagle of all places, and I think I've fallen in love with them!!

Here is the look all together! Somebody at Lincoln Center stopped me for the website chictini.com! Don't you love finding things in your closet that you've ignored, then repurposed, and therefore you wear said item more than ever before?!

February 14, 2012

2012-02-14T08:08:00.000-05:00

I have never been a big Valentine's Day girl, I grew up loathing the color pink, and since my birthday comes right after I've always preferred that whatever special things might happen, or gifts might be given that they come on my birthday instead. For some reason though my attitude toward pink has shifted in the past year {I can think of only one reason...this house}and I find myself drawn to more romantic colors, shapes and decor than ever before. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...if I'm gonna wear pink I have to have something to rough it up... So in honor of Valentine's Day 2012 I give you my favorite pink-spiration from Pinterest and beyond...

I am completely in love with the idea of spray painting silverware, and would like to use said silverware to eat everything in the second collage. Flowers, pink, red, fuschia, where did this love come from? I am not sure, but I like it, and think that pink is here to stay!

What are you doing for V-Day? My friends and I are checking out The Vow and plan to savor every second worth of tears that fall during what is sure to be an emotional roller-coaster of a film.
Stella McCartney photos via fashion gone rogue

Sartorial Compass: Liv Tyler, Blazer Babe

2012-02-12T11:47:00.001-05:00

Liv Tyler seems to love classics with a twist. Her love of the classic is translated into an obsession with blazers, the twist being that she knows how to wear them with literally everything, from pants and a tee to an LBD, or you know that feather skirt you have just lying around...

She knows how to make this look fresh every time, by switching up the silhouette, and what she pairs her blazers with. The pale pink is so great!

How great is the outfit with the feather skirt, as well as the black blazer with the silk details toward the right? What is your favorite way to wear a blazer? I have a new found love for a black one of mine, that I've worn as outerwear twice this past week {thank you February for letting me do this!}.

In Celebration of Layers & Fur

2012-02-10T09:08:00.001-05:00

Growing up only a few miles from "freshwater coastline," as the Pure Michigan ads like to call it, I always figured myself a "summer girl." For years I had bleach blonde hair and yearned for lazy afternoons at the beach. However since going to college in a town with some of the most brutal winter weather I've ever experienced, and a growing love of fashion and personal expression I grew into a person who LOVES the fall and winter, for the most part {I can do without slush and negative wind chills...}. Layering is my favorite thing about fashion, and I experiment with it and take inspiration from others on how to be a more creative layer-er daily. So in honor of the fact that NYFW has officially begun the Fall/Winter 2012 shows, here are a few of my favorite winter looks from the 2011 NYFW season...

Michael Kors, usually a brand that doesn't do much for me, blew it out of the water last year. The mauve, taupe and tan furs opened my eyes to a whole new world of luxe.

Proenza Schouler used pixelated navajo prints for their textiles, and the shoes were absolutely ridiculous.

Yigal Azrouel mastered the art of feminine masculinity last season, and though he wasn't the first to inspire my love for button-down shirts fully buttoned, he certainly got me extra jazzed about it.

I cannot wait to take a look at what's to come in 2012 for layers, knits and furs!!

Happy Fall & Winter 2012 Fashion Month

2012-02-09T08:12:00.001-05:00

New York Fashion Week starts today! I'm still trying to figure out how to manage all of my time lately, so I promise more posts {especially this week} but for now enjoy all of these ridiculously adorable ladies!

photo by tommy ton via style.com

Sartorial Compass: Liv Tyler, Casual New Yorker

2012-02-05T15:47:00.000-05:00

I made a huge list of ideas for Sartorial Compass' one afternoon back in July, and there was no question that Liv Tyler would be included...but seriously...where has she been? Anyways, I first saw Liv back in the day when I watched Armageddon {vhs} over, and over, and over again {fast-forwarding through any part that didn't include either she or Ben Affleck}, p.s. that movie came out 14 years ago, wow. Anyways, I was obsessed and Liv has stuck out to me as ridiculously gorgeous ever since. As seems to be the pattern lately the first batch of photos this month are of Liv in her everyday life, walking her dog, or taking her son to school. Check out her classic casual style...

She has very classic style, but always make her outfits pop with accessories. And how cute is the puppy?! Any girl that loves an olive jacket is cool with me.

photos via people.com

Valentino in the Spring

2012-02-04T10:43:00.003-05:00

This time of year is so exciting, when all of the new ad campaigns are released and slowly begin to filter into our magazines. This week I was particularly blown away by the Valentino advertisements. The dresses are so perfect and ethereal, yet I love that they're positioned against rocks and broken down structures. Take a look at the gorgeous images below...

I am absolutely in love with the final three images. The reds and tans, the lace gowns with neon accents and these black ones, so ridiculously beautiful.

photos via fashion gone rogue

January 2012

2012-02-01T07:42:00.000-05:00

This month has been crazy in more ways than one. Moving to NY and trying to get settled in to my apartment, the ridiculously warm weather {with a couple of freezing cold days for good measure}, and starting a new internship. Here are a few of my Instagram shots from the past month!

Dinners with Dad!

Sightseeing...

The difference a week can make {in reverse order}.

New sweater, and a Sunday afternoon pick me up at Daily Press Bed Stuy.

Sneak peek shot at my ALMOST finally organized and decorated bedroom!

p.s. you can follow me on instagram too, just find kelcitaylor :)

Sartorial Compass: Kate Bosworth, Rest of the Best

2012-01-29T09:03:00.004-05:00

So today is the 5th Sunday in January, and Kate Bosworth's last day as Sartorial Compass. Here are, in my humble opinion, the rest of the best looks that she has rocked over the past few years.

With Sartorial Compass alumni Chloe Sevigny at an event for Valentino on the left and at an event that they co-hosted for Chloe on the right.

I'm typically not the biggest Chanel fan, but I think that if I ever were fortunate enough to wear it, I would wear it like Kate in the photo to the left. She makes it so cool and young looking, the Burberry feather dress is so great too!

The dress on the left was supposed to be in the Short & Sweet post but I missed it. She wore the studded skirt and jacket to a Burberry show a few seasons ago, and the fur is Fendi at a show that used The Great Wall of China as the runway. This Rodarte dress is so simple, yet clearly a product of the Mulleavy sisters.

Last but not least, another amazing look that she just wore to a CFDA event, from Proenza Schoulers' current spring collection...SO good!! Happy Screen Actors Guild Awards day, looking forward to some great things tonight!

photos via justjared, popsugar

The Ideal Escape

2012-01-26T09:09:00.001-05:00

Desire to Inspire is my absolute favorite interior design blog, and their Real Estate Stalking posts are always a treat. This wonderful bungalow is near Byron Bay in Australia, and truly encompasses everything that I love in homes. Tons of land, open, breezy but with graphite colored walls and an industrial kitchen. It truly is a dream...

P.S. probably my biggest dream in life is to have a balcony off of my bedroom, and this truly perfect.

SOOO...who wants to go on a vacation...and stay forever...

"Love You Friend"

2012-01-24T09:21:00.002-05:00

Lulie Wallace is one of a TON of talented people that I met in Charleston this summer. She paints the most amazing flowers, and yesterday she was featured on Design Sponge, so I thought I would give her a shout-out too. Here are a few photos of Lulie's beautiful work...

One of the sweetest, most wonderful people I know, ending a conversation with "love you friend" is business as usual for her. Love you frienddd!

photos via luliewallace.com

Sartorial Compass: Kate Bosworth, Red Obsessed

2012-01-22T09:53:00.000-05:00

Kate knows how to make a statement, and what better way than with the color red. Two of her favorite items of clothing make quite the splash so check them out in the below photos...not to mention her love of red in the Short & Sweet post and Casual Cool.

Kate's go-to for casual footwear is this pair of Chloe booties.

She also loves to make a statement on the bottom...I love this red skirt of hers {the photos on the right are from the spring of 2009} she was clearly WAY ahead of the midi-skirt trend. The red leather pants are by Valentino, love the bow at the waist.

Still inspired by all things red in this post from way back when, I am STILL trying to find the perfect little red cross body bag.

photos via justjared

First Week Wardrobe

2012-01-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

So if you haven't caught on quite yet, I moved to New York this week. I currently reside in Brooklyn and thus far the experience has proven to be wonderful. Today I'll give you a look at my two favorite outfits from my first week of work.

Day 1: I wanted to make sure that I was dressed up enough, but also somewhat casual. Not all of my clothes or shoes had quite made it to NY yet...so I needed to make due with what I had. Piece 1) Madewell skirt - Christmas present and Piece[s] 2) J. Crew Miller Motorcycle Boots, I haven't yet determined how best to wear a midi-skirt in the winter with tights without making it all look too heavy so I opted for the skirt-over-boot option. From there I added a black Gap t-and J.Crew wool band jacket. Necklaces are from Stella + Dot and J.Crew.

Day 4: Last Thursday I was feeling the urge to go 90's... American Apparel skirt, J.Crew chambray shirt, H&M sweater and a Stella & Dot necklace. I finished the look off with my faux Frye's from Target (not photographed). Not sure if it was the time of day, or the fact that I don't have as nice of a backdrop here or what...but I NEED a new camera... I totally used effects to disguise the poor quality of the images...

Golden

2012-01-19T08:13:00.000-05:00

The GOLDEN GLOBES have come and gone, and I'm gonna get right to it...

I loved these three looks, Michelle Williams in Jason Wu was formal but not obvious {I may be one of the only people that hated the headband}. Rooney Mara was true to herself in Nina Ricci, but it is far from boring black. And Emma Stone is continuing her love affair with Lanvin, I couldn't be happier!

These were all beautiful dresses too, Kristin Wiig always looks great on the red carpet. This blush Dior dress on Charlize Theron is so pretty but I did have an issue {again with the headband} with it being a little too ballerina. Jessica Biel looked fantastic in my opinion, I love everything about it.

My favorites on the party circuit were Jamie King, Shenae Grimes, Shailene Woodley in Calvin Klein & Rachel Zoe.

Overall I was pretty bored by the dresses on the red carpet, I'm really hoping that people will step it up for the SAG awards in a week!

Critics Have Chosen

2012-01-17T07:41:00.001-05:00

My theory about the Critics Choice Awards is that there's less pressure compared to the big three award shows, translating to everybody showing up looking RIDICULOUSLY awesome. Including a few Sartorial Compass alumni, and some up-and-comers that I can't wait to see more of.

Love these ladies, Michelle Williams looked stunning in Chanel (an upcoming Sartorial Compass I promise), Diane Kruger in Prada and Kirsten Dunst in Dior.

The ladies from the Help turned it out, I love all of the color.

The ones to watch are as follows Elle Fanning in Rodarte, Elizabeth Olsen in Pucci, I am dying to see her movie Martha Marcy May Marlene. And lastly Shailene Woodley in Calvin Klein, also really looking forward to seeing her in The Descendants. I can't wait for more awards shows!

photos via popsugar

Sartorial Compass: Kate Bosworth, Glammed

2012-01-15T16:40:00.000-05:00

Despite not being the most billed actress in the whole world (aka...can't remember the last time she was in a movie) she still tends to make it to a lot of big time, very glam-my events. Some of her brightest moments have been at the Met's Costume Institute Gala, and various Chanel sponsored events. Have a look...

At the Met Gala over the years she has tried many different looks, Chanel in 2008, Valentino in 2010, Stella McCartney in 2009 and Prada in 2007.

The first dress is by Jil Sander and I love that it is a gown despite essentially being a t-shirt and skirt. She looks wonderful in blue hues and the Calvin Klein on the far right is so perfectly simple.

I love that she never appears to be trying too hard with her makeup or hair, always letting the dresses (etc...) do the work.

Start Your Engines

2012-01-12T07:29:00.001-05:00

I can't wait to post a few pics of my new living space but a few storage and decor items are still en route from Michigan, so Prada will have to do for now... Even though I haven't been able to go through Prada's SS '12 fashion show slides quite yet, I have heard nothing but rave reviews and have seen my fair share of pieces. Miuccia did retro '50's glamour like never before, dresses emblazoned with retro automobiles were accompanied by flaming shoes and a few pairs of hot pants, check out the great campaign.

So into the shoes...and the letterman-type jacket in the first photo. Miuccia never fails.

Sartorial Compass: Kate Bosworth, Short & Sweet

2012-01-08T08:45:00.001-05:00

Kate Bosworth has been rocking red carpets since her Blue Crush days back in 2002, and one pattern that she can't seem to shake is her affinity for mini-dresses in solid hues and patterns alike. With her bright blonde locks and graceful gams she can pull it off every time.

The sweet white lace dress is by Erdem, the center two are by Proenza Schouler [obsessed] and the pink is Calvin Klein.

Patterns or solids (she has a thing for bubble gum) she knows how to work the look. Her hair is always perfectly undone and she always finds a way to show off her limbs. Which look is your fave?

Sartorial Roadtrip: New York City, NY

2012-01-06T09:39:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, life gets hectic when you have to move! Thought I would share just a few photos from the ride. We left yesterday around 7 am from Holland, MI, drove through the town that houses the reigning Sugar Bowl Champions the Michigan Wolverines, Ann Arbor, MI. From there we continued down the Ohio turnpike and through the Appalachian Mountains in the scenic state of Pennsylvania. Last night we stayed in a town called Bethlehem, PA (my dad and I got a kick out of this, we were going on for a while with Christmas story jokes). Anyways, just a few photos before we set off on the remainder of our journey, and the actual moving part...

Sun-Up

Our first sign for NYC way back in Ohio.

Sun-Down

Can't wait to share more photos with you, and be moved into my new apartment. Also, in case you were worried, we were able to squeeze lil' miss dress form into the rented Suburban so she will be joining me for this next chapter.

Sartorial Compass: Kate Bosworth, Casual Cool

2012-01-01T12:16:00.002-05:00

Kate Bosworth is January's Sartorial Compass, she is the embodiment of casual coolness. One of the more photographed females in Hollywood, she's often caught at the airport and running errands on the daily. So below you'll see her best casual looks and you may even even find inspiration for your next trip to the airport!

Kate is a huge fan of American classics {denim, plaid etc...}but always with a touch of something special, like you know, gold studs, Isabel Marant sweaters etc...

The girl also knows how to travel well. Blousy, breezy pieces, reading materials and layers! The Proenza jacket in the upper left corner gets me ever time, oh and always a killer pair of shoes! May she remind you never to forget the classics, and ALWAYS remember your sunglasses!

Enjoy your New Year's day, and the onslaught of football and festivities during the next 48 hours!

Sartorial Sorbet

2011-12-31T14:12:00.001-05:00

In honor of me finally getting through all of the NYFW Spring/Summer 2012 shows just this week I will reward all of you with this post full of lovely ethereal goodness from 3.1 Phillip Lim, T by Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein and Vera Wang. While reviewing the 3.1 Phillip Lim collection style.com's Meenal Mistry described the "refreshing, airy & minimal" pieces as "a sartorial sorbet." Of course I loved that she used my favorite word...but it's also a spot-on observation. Here are a few of the languid and pattern free pieces that caught my eye during the spring shows.

3.1 Phillip Lim

T by Alexander Wang

Calvin Klein Collection

Vera Wang

I am so not the kind of person to wish away cozy layers, and boots but these looks are making me yearn for warmer months. That being said I can't complain about this unseasonably warm winter we've had so far...in fact I'm running a New Year's Eve 5K on this 40+ degree day! On that note...

Have a Happy New Year, see you in 2012!

2011 {First} Year in Review

2011-12-28T09:59:00.000-05:00

This post will serve as a walk down memory lane, I had such a great summer in Charleston, SC and was able to incorporate so much of my surrounding environment. I've also highlighted some of 2011's best trends. Without further ado, here is my review of some favorite posts from Sartorial Roadmap's first year...

Residents of the Runway: Seriously Feminine was inspired by this perfect little house right down the street from my apartment.

Stripes + Stripes = Style Stars was inspired by this SS '11 trend, which also reminds me of a dress in this post!

I had A LOT of fun with my Oh Irene post, listing necessities for the incoming Hurricane...that ended up causing mayhem for a whole 10 minutes...

Jenny & I stopped by Sugar Bakeshop to celebrate 1,000 views on my blog!

This was definitely a favorite post, PJ's In Public highlighted the silk p.j. trends that were shown on runways around the world!

In September I prepared my Missoni x Target Shopping List and was able to score a few of my favorite things, but I'm still bitter about the socks!!

The Paris Market was definitely a highlight during my trip to Savannah, and obviously seeing this girl!

Design minded in every sense of the word, Jenna Lyon's just knows what she's doing, and that's why Lyon's Den is my favorite interior design-centric post.

Going to see My First Artprize in Grand Rapids was so fun, the above piece was one of my favorites!

Thanks for a great first year, I can't wait to dive into 2012! I'm moving to New York in exactly 1 week and can't wait to see what the year brings!!

Decorating Around My Duvet

2011-12-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

Spring Break 2007 my mom and I ventured to Philadelphia for a few days and while visiting we stopped at an Ikea, at which I purchased my lovely and vibrant duvet cover. Said duvet cover has now seen me through 3 Chicago apartments, a 4 month long move to Charleston, SC, and its next big adventure will be to the Big Apple. This time I vow to fully settle in and make the place my home. In order to do this I plan on purchasing a couple of rugs, something I've always wanted to add to my rooms (3/4 of them have had wood floors) but I can never commit to because they're so expensive. Today I came across a few at Urban Outfitters that I'm considering.

Pictured above is my duvet cover, stripes of purple, orange and a touch of citrus populate the fabric. What do you think about these, and the possibility of layering the rugs to multiply floor coverage?

The chevron rug is the largest (also probably the busiest), I wish Urban had it available in a dark purple...but would it be completely crazy to do the orange chevron and then these two smaller rugs (that are both under $40)? I'm just not sure what else to do.

Also throwing this last one is as a wildcard entry, because it's pretty awesome. Does anybody have suggestions, or ideas of where to find inexpensive rugs?

P.S. this is my 100th blog post on SartorialRoadmap.blogspot.com. Thanks for continuing to read,, I can't wait to see what the new year holds!

photos via UrbanOutfitters.com

Sartorial Compass: Drew Barrymore & the Holiday's

2011-12-24T22:10:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately for Drew there have been many a momentous Sunday in the month of December. The 2nd Sunday I spent at the Empire State Building & the airport, the 3rd at the Nienhuis family Christmas party (at which I got to mingle with 8 of the coolest kiddos ever) and the 4th Sunday celebrating the birth of baby Jesus. Luckily for all of you I am going to basically throw all of the rest of my favorite Drew B looks into the last Sartorial Compass of the year!

A queen of casual cool, she's one of the women I look to for the best of casual dressing.

The leather jacket + white dress is so great, and the chambray shirt + skirt will forever be an outfit inspiration to me. But her white and purple tucker top paired with that stunning chunky necklace is what led me to my love affair! I <3 Tucker and I'm not afraid to say it.

These are all such beautiful classic looks. The black and white Narciso Rodriguez dress in the center is fantastic!!

The black dress and arms full of bangles is a fave look!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE these looks. The dress on the left she scored at a vintage store, the center she wore to a Chanel event (being not the biggest fan of all things Chanel I love that she can still show her style while wearing the classic brand) and lastly a shocking lil number that I adore.

I've gotta run, but I hope you enjoyed all of these pictures at once, I desperately need a new Drew rom-com in my life, and can't wait to see what 2012 will bring for her!

Holiday Pinning

2011-12-23T17:40:00.000-05:00

If any of you are lacking on last minute Holiday decor Pinterest is definitely the right place to look! You can find people pinning Holiday photos and DIY decorations from all over the world. Here are a few of my favorite Pinterest Holiday finds...

A makeshift Christmas tree!

Love these!

So today I pretty much did ALL of my Christmas shopping...and am quite happy with the results! But I can assure you that if I was throwing Christmas Eve party I for sure would not have anything fully decorated, which is why some of these ideas are so great! Remember to pop on over to the right and check out my Holiday board on pinterest and give me a little follow!

photos via shop terrain, decorology, stil inspiration, french larkspur and holly mathis interiors

What I Wore & What I'll Wear

2011-12-20T00:07:00.004-05:00

So I had an outfit issue on Sunday while getting ready for our family Christmas party when the perfect outfit I had envisioned in my head, but hadn't tried on until 10 minutes before we needed to leave, was a gigantic failure. This is what I came up with just in the nick of time...monochromatic, not too Holiday but the green is the right idea, and of course some sparkle. I guess I could have taken my own advice and worn this outfit...

gap sweater, jcrew skirt, jcrew necklaces

I've vowed to do it differently on Christmas Eve. It's perfect for this unusually warm December that we're having, and I think I'll add some color to make it a bit more festive. Our church is typically very casual, but for Christmas Eve I always try to get dressed up.

celebrity pink denim jacket, cynthia rowley dress, stella & dot necklace & vintage fur collar

I've been waiting to wear this dress since I scored it for $20 when the Cynthia Rowley sample sale rolled into Chicago. Though I didn't get to try it on until about a month ago, because of the silk fabric the neck opening had no give and was way too tight to even try getting around my head (which is abnormally large mind you). So I enlisted my mom to cut open one side and add the hooks and eyes, making it not only wearable but even more unique than it was in the first place. The fur collar is a gift from my wonderful Grandma, and I can't wait to wear it!

More important than clothes though during this season is family! My family and I are holing up for the rest of the Holiday season watching movie after movie, and throwing in a few games of Skip-Bo. Last night we watched The Debt with Helen Mirren, it was phenomenal and I highly recommend it!

Bergdorf Beauties

2011-12-19T09:45:00.001-05:00

After flipping through the Refinery29 slideshow highlighting the Holiday window displays at all of the big department stores, I knew I had to see the Bergdorf windows for myself. The best of all the windows hands down, each window was entirely unique, featuring creatures made with mind-blowing detail and out of ridiculous materials.

McQueen & mosaic fish.

These needlepoint creatures took my breath away!

So much bronze, brass & gold!

Zebra and friends were made entirely of paper

Celine + carved wooden statues+Rodarte shoes = a winning combo

Just taking her well decorated giraffe for a walk...in Marchesa...

Loved these so much!

Take a look at the rest of the Holiday displays over at Refinery29!

NYC Landmarks

2011-12-16T00:42:00.000-05:00

During our 3 full days in Manhattan my mom and I definitely made it a point to stop by a quintessential New York landmarks. Take a look at the insta-pics from my phone...

The Public Library covered in faux Santa's

The obligatory Gossip Girl reference...on the steps of the Met

Grand Central Station, full of more Santa's

More photos to come from my actual camera soon...

Sartorial Compass: Drew Barrymore, Bold & Beautiful

2011-12-13T22:14:00.001-05:00

I know it's not Sunday but I couldn't resist posting this edition of Sartorial compass. A few of my favorite Drew Barrymore looks happen when solids and color blocking are on the brain. Bright hues and bold design is the name of the game in the looks below.

in Victoria Beckham

Jil Sander - Truly gorgeous and one of her best all time looks by far.

She shows how much of a chameleon she is going from totally classic in the purple sheath, and then jazzing it up in shocking orange. Bonus photos below are from bold photo shoot that she did with Neiman Marcus this year...

photos via justjared, david shankbone, and neiman marcus

Lunch & A Smile

2011-12-09T09:46:00.001-05:00

Thursday between a pair of interviews my mom and I sat down for quick lunch at The Smile cafe. I fell in love with the rustic setting and my tasty lunch put it over the edge. The clientele was beyond cool, and a draw in and of themselves.

First Glimpse of NYC

2011-12-08T08:27:00.001-05:00

We landed in New Jersey around 5pm to rain and wind, thanks for the welcome. This is my very first trip to New York City, and I have to say I wasn't feeling all that excited until we exited the Lincoln Tunnel and this was staring right at me...

Basics Binge

2011-12-05T18:54:00.001-05:00

I found myself struggling this fall to find any good basics in my closet that A) fit my post freshman year of college style...i.e. not skin tight/short, and B) I hadn't already worn a million times...i.e. holes and deodorant induced pit-issues. During the course of a couple of shopping trips this fall I think I've finally put together a good collection of versatile basics.

The tees pictured above and below are from my Old Navy trip. Both are dolman sleeved and slouchy, they're great dressed up or down.

I found this grey tea-length dress at Topshop this weekend and couldn't resist pairing it with my denim vest for a summer vibe, and the red jacket for wearing now.

These sweaters are from Gap, perfectly drapey and insanely comfortable!

Lastly this black tee is also from Gap, the neckline is lined in chiffon making it just different enough. And II found this bag at J.Crew this weekend. I couldn't turn down the quilted side panels and the black on black hardware!!

I often have a hard time committing to basics because they're so simple, but without the basics you can't wear all of your fun pieces.

Sartorial Compass: Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens

2011-12-04T12:17:00.001-05:00

I have always been a fan of Drew Barrymore (at least ever since Fever Pitch), but I re-fell in love with her when I saw Grey Gardens, the HBO movie about Jackie Kennedy's Aunt and Cousin, Big Edie & Little Edie. If you haven't seen the film yet I highly recommend it. It tells the story of their once glamorous life that due to paranoia of the outside world, became one of seclusion and squalor. Pictured below are Drew and Jessica Lange in character.

During her promotional duties and award show appearances Drew got in touch with her retro glamour side and absolutely stunned on red carpets.

In Alberta Ferretti for a New York premiere.

Andrew Gn for Los Angeles, such a great 60's vibe on this look.

She was nominated for an Emmy, and won the Golden Globe and SAG awards for Grey Gardens and absolutely stunned on the red carpets.

Monique Lhullier at the Emmy's above, and Monique earlier that year at the SAG's below.

In line with tradition she presented the Golden Globe the following year, this dress was far from being well received by critics, but I thought the details were beautiful and unique.

It seems that Drew took a cue from her character, and dared to be different. The Holiday's are the perfect time for that, so don't be afraid to take a risk and get a little bit glamorous this year.

Home Sweet Second Home

2011-12-03T14:57:00.001-05:00

Things have been a bit chaotic as of late. Once I finally got myself and my "4 jobs" organized I have kept mighty busy. Job 1) job search (they're not lying when they call it full-time work), Job 2) promoting Kevin Clark and his book The Great Economic Train Wreck, Job 3) CulutureWorks ICA Admin Asst. (etc...), Job 4) this blog of course!!

Thanks to said organizational skills, I planned a super quick trip to my old stomping grounds, Chicago, this week. I was in town for a couple of interviews and was also lucky enough to spend some time with friends and shopping at my favorite European invasion stores. The trip was not complete without a stop to see the brand new Perchance Gold Coast! See my fun photos below!

Such a sweet sight to see. Thanks for a great two days Chicago!

My first TOPSHOP experience!

The shoe section blew my mind.

I worked at Perchance on Southport for nearly three years and had the best experience, and I am SO happy for their success and the opening of the Gold Coast location!

New From Old Navy

2011-11-27T22:55:00.001-05:00

Okay so I went to Old Navy for the first time in a couple of years hoping to get my hands on a pair of booties like Jane's, unfortunately they didn't have my size, but I did come out a winner on a few other fronts.

After spending five years in Chicago the "color" black and I became quite fond of one another, and aside from a few pops of color in the summer I tend to steer clear of brights for the most part. Perhaps now you'll have a better understanding of how shocking my Old Navy purchases are.

I notoriously hate pink more than pretty much any color, but I could not resist this skirt! Admittedly my mind immediately went to the dark side...it needed some black to tone it down...

I decided that since the Holiday's are here it would be fun to style the neon pink as a Holiday look. So I paired it with this top from The Roo Vintage, my favorite necklace full of sparkle from J. Crew, and finished it off with a belt. What a great alternative to sequins and sparkles...still festive but not literal.

My eyes immediately spotted this dress on the sale rack. It is giving me major Prada SS '11 flashbacks, and also reminding me of this post from July.

I figured that since the colors were already crazy I might as well throw on a red leather jacket to finish it off. I definitely feel like this is Holiday party appropriate too. P.S. don't you love when you're in your high school room and there are bags full of photos and empty albums that are still lying around from your graduation open house...?

The best thing about these two lovely pieces?? Their prices...check it out!!

Even better............

And there ya have it...for a whopping $16.46 I have two new favorite ways to wear color this winter! Also welcome for the first time putting her modeling skills to work, last years number one Christmas present...my dress form!! Still messing around with how to photograph her, but expect to see her around more often!

Sartorial Compass: Leighton & Blair

2011-11-27T11:48:00.001-05:00

Leighton Meester wouldn't have a million events to go to if it wasn't for the success of Gossip Girl, and her character, Blair Waldorf. So today you'll see a few more of my favorite Leighton moments, as well as the best outfits in Blair's 5 seasons.

LEIGHTON:

Jason Wu, YSL (favoritteee), & Missoni.

BLAIR:

Nothing says Blair Waldorf to me like a few pictures of her on the steps of the Met before a day at Constance. Then of course we have Blair in Paris to kick off season 4, where she meets her soon to be husband. The look in the center with the mixed prints is one of my all time favorites.

Have a lovely Sunday to wrap up this long Holiday weekend!

photos via justjared, style.com

Decor Dreamer

2011-11-26T10:10:00.001-05:00

I recently got my dads hand-me-down computer (it's 2 years newer than my 6 year old one, but operates like magic in comparison) and it's motivated me to get my computer organized. With all of the blogs I comb through regularly I find inspiring photos often, therefore, saving many images to my computer to use for new posts etc... So today I decided to organize my folder of "dreams," decor dreams that is. With over 300 saved photos I organized them based on type of space (outdoor, kitchen etc...), but I think my favorite folder is "dens, offices, attics." Check out a few of the best pictures below...

DENS
A den is defined as "a secluded room for study or relaxation," or my favorite, "a center of secret activity."

Bakers racks as bookshelves...in love.

OFFICES
A space for concentration and inspiration...these are lovely!

My desk is similar to this one...can't wait to bust it out again!

ATTICS
Wonderfully rustic and cozy.

To me this seems like a modern version of the attic in Little Women.

Okay is that view photoshopped?!

I can't wait to just collect and collect and make the perfect office, attic, and or den all in one. What I love about decorating, just like building a wardrobe, is that it's never complete, there's always one more thing to add to or rearrange.

photos via desire to inspire and design sponge (I post many of these to my pinterest page also)

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

2011-11-23T18:27:00.001-05:00

The Thanksgiving season is not complete without a family viewing of Planes, Trains & Automobiles. All together we could probably recite the entire movie start-to-finish, punchline-to-punchline. So when this editorial special for Vogue.com caught my eye I knew that posting it would, simply put, be the right thing to do on Thanksgiving Eve.

Obviously a little different than the clothing and accessory choices featured in the film...but you have to admit those shower curtain "earrings" were pretty special! So please if you're planning to travel for Thanksgiving do yourself a favor and do not show up to the airport in full on sweatpants...it's simply not visually appealing for those of us who enjoy airports primarily for the people watching.

photos by Justin Hollar via vogue.com

Lanvin x H&M Memories

2011-11-20T23:56:00.001-05:00

Almost exactly a year ago my roomies and I left our apartment at 4 a.m. to really get into the Holiday spirit with the Lanvin collection for H&M. Though my faux fur jacket has yet to be used (it needs a special night out in a big city), I absolutely adore my t-shirt and use my tote often. Oh and the lipstick...still rockin it. Check out some photos I snapped of the pieces I picked up last year.

I could not have been happier to get one of the garment bags! Luckily I lived in Chicago during Lanvin x H&M and not Versace x H&M, I would have been brokenhearted to miss this one!

Sartorial Compass: Leighton Meester, Pattern Me Crazy

2011-11-19T14:46:00.001-05:00

As much as Leighton loves a subtle watercolor print she's not one to shy away from bold prints either. Whether it be a wild Louis Vuitton look from the 2009 Met Gala, or a sleek Vera Wang look and bold skirt she is not afraid of going for something a little crazy! Check out her best patterned looks below.

First are 3 looks designed by the incomparable Marc Jacobs, the first is from Marc Jacobs spring '11 collection, and the other two are both Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. She wore the legging/dress combo for the 2009 Costume Institute Gala at the Met, it embodies everything that the event is meant to be about, high fashion and no holds barred.

Pattern on the bottom here means Proenza x J. Brand jeans, a Vera Wang look, and more Proenza!!

As previously documented Missoni is well known for their killer patterns and Leighton was featured in their Spring 2011 ad campaign.

Leighton is clearly okay with taking risks so never be afraid to go crazy with bold patterns! Next week make sure to check out the Sartorial Compass as I'll be featuring a few of Leighton & Blair Waldorf's greatest hits! Check out a couple of bonus looks...

Sister, Sister

2011-11-19T10:18:00.001-05:00

This month two sets of sisters are on the covers of Vogue & W Magazine respecitvely. Mary Kate & Ashley cover a special issue of Vogue's Best Dressed, and the Fanning sisters grace the pages December's W Mag. All of the photos are insanely gorgeous...and I think there needs to be a power sister shoot at some point featuring all four, take a look!

This is MK & A's first Vogue cover...sort of unbelievable, I hope it's the first of many.

Pretty gorgeous...what do you think?

photos via fashion gone rogue

p.s. today marks 3,000 and counting page views on SartorialRoadmap!! thanks peeps, and I promise more original "programming" coming up soon...including of all things, an OLD NAVY haul??!! It's as crazy as it sounds...check back for more!

MOCA/CFDA Madness

2011-11-16T08:46:00.001-05:00

This weekend there were two events that brought out the best in a few of my favorite stars. First the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles opened up for their annual charity gala, Sartorial Compass Alumni Gwen Stefani and Kirsten Dunst looked great and so did a future S.C. Nicole Richie.

Carven

Rodarte

Julien MacDonald

The second event of the weekend was the CFDA Fashion Fund Awards. Brooklyn Decker, Chloe Moretz & Amanda Seyfried were my faves from this event.

Ohne Titel

Prabal Gurung

Suno

photos via justjared & style.com

Sartorial Compass: Leighton Meester, Watercolor Wonder

2011-11-13T12:03:00.001-05:00

A pretty dress can either be ruined or enhanced by a fabric choice. Leighton Meester knows how to choose a dress based on beautiful textiles. Often attracted to simple shapes created with ethereal watercolor prints, Leighton will always pull off a pretty dress with this formula. Take a look at these stunners...

She wore this long sleeved Burberry dress to the Golden Globes this spring, not a favorite look of many critics but I LOVE that it isn't a flashy evening gown. It also fits her personal style, something that I think many celebs overlook when getting spiffed up for these glitzy events.

Love these sheer sleeves!

So many of these girls have stylists, but I love when you can still see that they have a point of view and they still make sure to wear what they want, and what they're comfortable in. And when you're able to find patterns in the things that they wear, you know that they have a say.

Lastly, not exactly watercolor but a beautiful yellow-to-gray ombre daisy print velvet dress by Marc Jacobs. LOVELY, and how cute are these pics of she and Marc.

photos via style.com and justjared

Sartorial Roadtrip: St. Louis

2011-11-11T08:50:00.001-05:00

So I guess since I was there a month ago I should hop to getting these photos up. I've decided that for sartorial roadtrips from this point on, I really need to make it a point to take photos of the "Welcome to ___" signs. Anyways, in mid-October my family took a quick lil' trip to St. Louis for my cousins wedding. We got to spend time with our awesome family down there, check out a few of my favorite photos from the weekend!

First order of business? Take a trip to southern ILLINOIS (yes we left the state of Missouri for this gem) so that my cousin could show us the ropes at Wild Country...he's the cowboy on the right. The band was great, and the singer definitely thought she was Stevie Nicks.

Saturday morning we spent exploring, and gawking. Right next to Forest Park is this amazzzzing neighborhood, Central West End, that is teeming with mansions and old money.

One of my favorites from the day...the stone was rose colored, and the entrance was gorgeous.

Then it was off to the wedding (I could only squeeze in so many pics) but it was a great weekend, and the best time with my family! And I finally got to wear my DVF Veda dress and my Love me Knot heels from J.Crew!

Lastly a shoutout to the Bride & Groom...CONGRATS! It was lovely and I adored the birds that sat atop the cake!

Ausome

2011-11-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post about how great this Vogue Australia Cover is. So. Cool.

Sartorial Compass: Leighton Meester Black & White

2011-11-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

Our November Sartorial Compass is here, and in contrast to Kirsten Dunst, Leighton is quite new on the scene, yet she's had quite the introduction to the fashion world while playing socialite Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl. G.G. is on its 5th season, and I couldn't be more thankful that it came along to introduce me to such a fashion risk taker (and um the Blair & Chuck saga). Today take a look at Leighton's affinity for crisp and clean white ensembles as well as her love for looks on the darker side...

When she wears white she tends to let the looks do the talking. Just recently she was in Toronto debuting a film in the crocheted dress, it's an outfit that definitely showcases her mature fashion sense with its mid-length hem. And of course there's the white Bottega Veneta dress she wore SO WELL to the Golden Globes accessorized with a lovely red lip.

She also leans toward all black quite often, but tends to play up her darker looks with heavier makeup and accessories. The first is a dress from Christopher Kane's first collection for resurrected line Versus, I was enamored with the flounce and pleats on the dresses. She definitely doesn't do boring black!

This is one of my favorite Leighton fashion moments, she wore this leather Chanel dress to a Chanel show and dared to be different by adding a chunky necklace to an already amazing dress.

She knows how to keep her look classic in black and white but never shies away from adding big time accessories or bold makeup.

Sweet, Sweet Savannah

2011-11-04T08:48:00.001-04:00

Last Savannah post, but not the least. I snapped a BUNCH of photos of homes (I honestly couldn't help myself) so here is my final photo recap of Savannah!

The beautiful piazza on Marc Jacobs' Savannah home.

One of my absolute favorites is the one pictured above. So perfectly worn in, the shutters and intricate woodwork are amazing.

This empty lot is right on Broughton, and this brick wall is awesome, so much texture and color in one wall.

Such an enchanted city, I wish I could just hop in my car for a quick drive down there again...

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

2011-11-03T15:52:00.001-04:00

Prints of Persia

2011-11-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

I've become a little bit obsessed with Persian rugs recently. They are in galleries, shops and homes ALL over Charleston giving the perfect well worn historic feel to their dwelling places. One of the things I especially love about these rugs is that there are so many colors and patterns throughout that it's difficult (and not advised) to match them with furniture and accessories in a room. This then causes them to create a seamless way of mixing and matching patterns and colors throughout a space. Check out the photos I've rounded up of my favorite rug-ged rooms.

Layering the rugs looks fantastic. Adds texture and color to a room with such simple furnishings!

The only problem with this rugs is how insanely expensive they are...someday...someday. Jenna Lyons' bedroom also has an amazing rug featured in this post.

photos via desire to inspire & design sponge

Hallo-Weird

2011-10-31T09:16:00.000-04:00

No matter how awesome your costume may (or may not be) it never fails that when out for Halloween there are some super clever looks that you can't believe you didn't think of. So in lieu of this holiday I thought I would post a few of the best (I obviously can't remember all of them, and this is what I could find) Halloween costumes I've seen in years past.

Lauren Conrad as the Twitter Bird...love it.

Jessica Alba as Dora the Explorer.

Brooklyn Decker in as 1/3 of TLC (the early years)...if I remember correctly the costumes were thrown together on the fly...so good.

Last year stylist Brad Goreski had the BEST version of blogger Tavi Gevinson!

Lastly a look at a few Halloween's past (too bad for you I couldn't scan photos of myself as Amy March...yeah I had a hoop skirt, you're jealous? I know) my friends have come up with some clever looks...

Sophomore year of college was quite the hit...a timely representation of Lindsay Lohan circa her first arrest...inappropriate? Maybe...but history has shown it is the most prepared I've ever been for the holiday (I knew in May!). That same year my friend Kate hand made a daisy costume (bottom left) and my friend Christen was a dead ringer for Nicole Richie...made even sweeter when she got to add a baby bump. The following year (put together in minutes) was my representation of Joe Jonas, Kate in a first edition Rachel Zoe costume and Morgan as a Ninja Turtle. Then came a Halloween in which we ran into this kid named Dan Lee...Asian tourist. Last year I proudly frolicked around Chicago in a Bayside Tigers t-shirt and Kelly Kapowski bangs with my friend the bumble-bee.

So with that said...HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Sartorial Compass: Kirsten Dunst Cover Queen

2011-10-30T12:19:00.001-04:00

As stated before Kirsten has been around for a while, meaning she has been on the covers of magazines across the world, and she is one of those women who can be molded so well for different styles of shoots. From being Marie Antoinette in 2006 to her so called "comeback" photo shoot with Canadian Flare still on newsstands now. Check some of the amazing editorials she's been a part of below...

I'm not typically a fan when magazines use an actresses role to dictate the style of the shoot...but in this case I don't care. The Annie Leibovitz photos are amazing, and the gowns are gorgeous!

The V Magazine double covers are gorgeous, the colors and lighting are a modern take on old Hollywood glamour.

Kirsten's hair is phenomenal in this Flare Magazine spread...and the cover look by Giambattista Valli is wonderful!!!!

The above photos were taken by Terry Richardson (in classic Terry style...white background vibrant colors etc...) for New York Times Style Magazine "T" just around a week ago. I love the retro modern vibe and fantastic leather jackets.

If Kirsten Dunst has taught us anything in her month's reign as Sartorial Compass, it's that if you keep your style classic with a touch of quirk, but stay true to yourself your style will have staying power.

Sartorial Roadtrip: Nashvegas, TN

2011-10-26T15:17:00.002-04:00

Well officially I was road-tripping to Pure Michigan with stop in Tennessee, but who needs those details. A little back story here; during my childhood my family and I took a once yearly roadtrip to Florida for spring break...let's not talk about the time they decided we should fly...sore subject. I had this dream of becoming a singer and knew that Nashville was the place to be for that (my parents weren't as obliging as Taylor Swift's...THAT COULD BE ME). Since we always drove through in the middle of the night, I would have my mom wake me up so that I could look out the windows and dream of going there to begin my career. Fast forward 15 years and I had still NEVER been to Nashville.

Here is my photo diary from one night in Nashvegas.

A photo from the lovely ride through the Appalachian Mountains...

Remember this post and the amazing red chair, if only I could have run out of there with this one at Merchants on Broadway.

Pretty much took this photo because it The Stage plays a major role in "Country Strong" featuring one of my faves, Leighton Meester, and the incomparable Garrett Hedlund.

At the Ryman Auditorium...

Loved this building down by the river. It was a good few hours down on the strip...short but sweet...I shall return again some day to beg for a recording contract...

ALSO big shout out to my pal Marissa who made another lovely header for Sartorial Roadmap!!

Back to The Forties We Go

2011-10-24T12:37:00.004-04:00

If you haven't figured it out yet, I have gotten a bit carried away with the 1940's this season, thanks to Miu Miu. Which is why, when I stumbled upon yet ANOTHER 1940's inspired editorial (that features Miu Miu, other big designers, but most importantly Miu Miu) I couldn't resist getting it up here. If this blog has taught you anything in the last month it's to go ALL OUT 40'S ALL THE TIME...perhaps that's not the way, but it sure would be beautiful.

Frida Gustavsson by Andreas Ohlund for Elle Sweden, most importantly styled by Linda Lindqwister.

So in love with this.

photos via fashion gone rogue

Sartorial Compass: Kirsten Dunst Evening & Beyond

2011-10-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

Luckily October has 5 Sunday's so missing the first Sunday of this months Sartorial Compass has not put me behind at all! In today's edition of Sartorial Compass, she sartorially kills it in one bunch of ethereal gowns and then another bunch shows off her darker side. Check out the lovely looks...

These lovely looks include three Chanel gowns (maybe four...not sure about look 1) and a light blue Rochas dress that looks fantastic with her auburn locks. She definitely has a formula: ruffles, pastels and a perfect pucker.

I love these looks, her porcelain skin glows in dark dresses which from the left include Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and more Chanel. I have to say that the Louis Vuitton dress is from one of my absolute favorite LV collections of late, and it flatters her figure quite nicely.

Lastly Kirsten is also a big fan of Proenza Schouler and shows that she's loved them for a while...

A Proenza look from 2007-ish.

And here she sports a super cool look from their Spring 2011 line.

photos via just jared, style.com and more

Thoughts on Fabric

2011-10-21T10:27:00.000-04:00

Is there a men's equivalent to polyester? In the last few months I've paid a bit more attention to the goings on of men's fashion and it has gotten me thinking, is it that much easier to fake quality for women's clothing? We get rayon, polyester, and acrylic blends all of the time, and maybe it's just me (because I'm a girl) but it seems like men get a WHOLE lot more by way of natural fibers...all the cotton, wool and real silk (ties only please) they would like. My apologies in advance if this bores you.

Take for example Gap. It's an easy place to compare the differences between men & women easily and on a middle ground (not uber-cheap but not really high quality either). I went to the "shirts + blouses" section for women and the "shirts" section for men. And I came up with some examples...

Here is a women's blouse and a men's shirt. Both are things that you could wear to somewhat dressed up occasions (the top with a skirt/trousers/nice jeans, the shirt with chinos/dark jeans). What I found in the women's category however was the large majority (if not all blouses) were either polyester, rayon, or a blend of the two. Whereas in the men's section it was 100% cotton for all but 1 shirt (one that included lycra that I suggest no male ever wear). Onto denim...

Extra crazy. Literally every pair of men's denim was 100% cotton (and I wouldn't want it any other way...stretch would be WEIRD). Conversely every pair of women's denim...if you could even call it that, had a combo of three fabrics, some cotton, a percentage of lycra and a percentage of polyester or rayon. Can't a girl just get some real denim, and maybe for a pair of skinnie's 1% of lycra or spandex for the purpose of being able to move.

I find it interesting that women can be such shoppers, yet we're getting duped without realizing it. Yes sometimes we can't all afford silk everything, but I know (based on years of buying at J.Crew factory stores) that you can get silk for cheap. The problem that Gap and other stores might see with that is a smaller profit. This is me ranting, but I think it's a fascinating topic.

Thanks to a few men for getting me thinking about this with all of their selvedge denim, cotton shirts and wonderful shoes... the men of The Midwestyle and Indigo & Cotton in Charleston.

photos via Gap.com

Peep Me on Pinterest

2011-10-19T09:57:00.000-04:00

I thought I would take this chance to invite you all to the wonderful world of Pinterest. A beautiful place where you can find pictures of yummy food, pretty clothes and pretty much anything else you might want to find. I was skeptical about it at first, but once I gave in it opened my eyes to a whole new world of inspiration. Peep a few of my recent "pins"...

"decor dreams" board

"high fashion" board

"street style" board

"the deets" board

"dudes" board

"beauty board" board

If you feel so inclined you may follow your mouse to the right side of your screen and hit the cute red Pinterest button...while you're at it bloglovin' and twitter are right there too! I'm still getting used to "pinning," but so far it's been fun, and I urge you to join if you haven't yet. See ya there!

photos via fashion gone rogue, dapper lou, the man repeller, photodiarist, and desire to inspire

Sartorial Compass: Kirsten Dunst, Demure Darling

2011-10-17T10:20:00.000-04:00

I had a busy travel day yesterday hence why this is going up on a Monday, but I couldn't miss it. Kirsten has shown us since the Little Women days that she is a bit of an old soul. And her sartorial choices often highlight that. She's quite the lady on the red carpet during the day and at night. Check out a few of her most ladylike looks below.

All of these looks scream demure to me. The dress on the far left is by Miu Miu a couple of seasons ago, she pulls off the mixed patterns beautifully. Next she brings a fun pattern to a classic shape, and the third dress is my FAVORITE! In this Chloe dress from the Spring 2011 line, Kirsten pulls off the marigold color beautifully and her lips pop with red.

She also dresses like a lady in the evening. Most of these looks are fairly recent like the blouse and skirt combo and the beautiful short sleeved dress both for premieres of her movie Melancholia. The third look reminds us that she's been a lady for years, this is a Chanel dress that she wore to the 2007 Oscars. It features a collar (she's clearly fond of collars), feathers and art deco-esque beading, it's an unexpected look for the Oscar's but she pulls it off. And finally a simple and classic all white ensemble from a recent event.

This week and into the next couple of months it's definitely worth trying out some similar ladylike looks. Collared menswear shapes are great in beautiful feminine prints, and a voluminous mid-length skirt is the way to go, and don't be afraid to cover up every once in a while!

photos via justjared, style.com, etc...

Missoni Mayhem

2011-10-15T09:34:00.000-04:00

I have always had a love/hate relationship with Target. I love them for giving me the option to buy a million things I don't need, yet I hate them because my money seems to evaporate every time I set foot inside. Missoni for Target was no different. At least this time I had some money saved up. It was a hot September evening when I readied myself for the launch, my wallet and gift card were directly next to my computer so I could pounce on my shopping cart the second I had it filled with zig-zaggy goodness. So I waited until midnight...no launch yet...then I waited for Target's midnight (central time)...no launch yet. I gave up until my 7 am wake-up call. I snapped open my computer and beelined for target.com THE THROW WAS ALREADY SOLD OUT...but I collected myself enough to order 2 trays and 3 pairs of socks.

Then it was off to Target with a friend. We [I] tried stay composed, I admit to being a little bit frantic, but we were successful! Finding things we didn't expect and had fun watching the other shoppers.

I'm happy with all of my finds but I think the trays are my absolute favorite.

My mom also took part in the madness and found a few great things (we were text shopping back and forth), this blue journal is one of the pieces she found.

p.s. I'm not entirely pleased with Target right now since they decided to cancel my socks because they were entirely unprepared for the onslaught of customers that it brought. AT LEAST I GOT THE TRAYS I have to keep reminding myself.

p.p.s.s. My roommate in Charleston got super lucky when her mom stumbled upon the throw and snatched it up (without truly recognizing the significance). I think it's safe to say it was the most wanted item from the collection, which is why she should be glad I didn't run off with it when I had the chance.

My First ArtPrize

2011-10-13T10:12:00.000-04:00

Shortly after arriving back in Michigan my brother invited me to head up to Grand Rapids with him to check out Artprize. It's an art competition that is open to anybody in the world to submit pretty much anything they'd like as long as they can find a place for it. The pieces are voted on by spectators only, and it awards the largest art-prize in the world, $250,000 to the winner. There is literally art of all kinds throughout the city from coffee shops, to trees, street corners and MORE (164 venues to be exact). Obviously I couldn't get a look at everything I wanted to on Tuesday night, so last Friday I went back for more...check these things out...

Unbelievably large and 3D The Metaphorest Project was spearheaded by Tracy VanDuinen and put together with the help of student volunteers from the West Michigan Center for Art & Technology.

Both of these pieces were at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the first made of steel pipes and encyclopedia pages. The second took 4 thick sheets of paper and each layer was cut with an x-acto knife (she used over 80 blades). In person it was soo pretty and looked like lace, it reminded me of the Proenza Schouler s/s 11 shibori collection.

LOVED this one of a stadium, the colors are so vibrant and amazing that it just jumped off the canvas.

I ADORED these bears...all carved with a chainsaw.

This blew me away. It was built using wood that had been scorched in a 1217 degree fire in Detroit. It was cool to see how organized the wood could look from one angle and then how crazy and deconstructed it could look from another.

Wish you could see more detail in this...but this entire piece was done in ONE CONTOUR LINE. Starting in Reagan's forehead and ending in Andrew Jackson's hair. This is one of the first pieces I saw, mind was blown.

This is made completely out of duct tape, brings me back.

The winner. Wish you could see how massive this is, larger than life size mosaic, the colors were beautiful!

I'm so glad that I was able to get up to Grand Rapids twice to check this out. Unbelievable stuff!

Tommy Snaps

2011-10-11T09:51:00.000-04:00

Tommy Ton originally started his website Jak & Jil in 2005 but it wasn't until 2007 that he finally got to go to the international fashion shows and try his hand at streetstyle photography. In 2008 he began taking the candid shots that he is now known for (as opposed to head-to-toe shots), and that's when his life got CRAZY. Every year he travels all over the world for style.com and GQ (as well as to take pics for his own website) and he always seems to find something the rest of us don't see.

He captures the most amazing colors and angles, here are my favorite snaps of his for style.com from the European shows!

Alexander Wang Simona Fox shoe to the rescue!!!!

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No better print and color mixing has ever been seen.

Miroslava is at it again. I wish that her blog wasn't written entirely in Russian.

I love this photo. For one they look like they're having a great time simply hanging out, and I also love how they have such different personal styles, but it's cool because they're both still on trend.

photos tommy ton for style.com

Sartorial Compass: Kirsten Dunst Rodarte Rad

2011-10-09T13:49:00.000-04:00

Kirsten Dunst has been around the acting world for a while (as evidenced by last weeks photo), but she's also been a huge part of the fashion world for a while as well. During her time in the public eye she has forged a friendship with Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte...one of the cooler and more innovative lines to come out of the U.S. in the last ten years. Captured below are her best Rodarte looks to date, and surely there's more to come...

Laura & Kate Mulleavy and Kirsten at the CFDA Fashion Awards.

Kirsten in a classic Rodarte knit...wish those would make a comeback...

The dress pictured above is from one of their more recent collections, the mixed patterns and unique throwback shape are really special. This dress is from the same collection and bears a resemblance to a dress that Chloe Sevigny once wore. The photo below is from the Cannes film festival this year where she came back to the forefront of the fashion world with a vengeance...more photos from Cannes to come in the following weeks...

She wore this white dress to the Costume Institute Gala at the met in 2010 I think. It's from probably my absolute favorite Rodarte collection to date, inspired by the women of Juarez Mexico. I wish there was a detail shot of the shoes, Nicholas Kirkwood crafted them for this particular season and the heel is made to look like dripping wax. The details are impeccable.

Love her in this black dress, the length is great (this is from 4 years ago...she was wayyyy on top of the midi-length trend), her hair and makeup are flawless. Check out some past Rodarte pieces and feel inspired by Kirsten to go for something with unique craftsmanship and details this week.

Oh and Rodarte for a more casual look too...

photos via justjared, exposay, designer laundry etc...

Welcome to Paris

2011-10-06T11:09:00.000-04:00

Little did all of you know I made a quick stop in Paris a couple of weeks ago... Welllllll not quite, but it sure felt like it. While checking out Savannah with Allie she made sure to bring me to her favorite place in town. The Paris Market is a gorgeous shop full of unique furniture, jewelry and beautiful little knick knacks all around. I snapped a few not-so-discreet photos of the sweet shop and can't wait to go back again.

Their displays show an intense dedication to the idea of "organized clutter" making the store feel lived in and perfectly chaotic.

You always know that a store has gotten it right when the thought "I would really like to sleep and wake up here" crosses your mind.

LOVE this idea. I probably spent twenty minutes surveying bags to see which one I would like to take home with me, which a. defeats the entire purpose of the "grab bag" and b. due to to a lack of cut-throat decision making skills caused me to walk away empty handed. How cute is this place though? They also have a fantastic blog here that you should visit as well...

The Red Door

2011-10-04T11:19:00.000-04:00

My my mom was in Charleston with me this past weekend and on Saturday morning went for a walk around the neighborhood, on which I showed her a few of my favorite houses, gates and the beautiful Charleston battery. The front entrance to this home is my absolute favorite in all of Charleston, everything about it is perfect. The first photo is one that I took back in June during one of my first walks south of Broad, while the rest are from my last walk around the 'hood.

Sartorial Compass: Kirsten Dunst

2011-10-02T08:36:00.000-04:00

October's Sartorial Compass is none other than film's original Amy March and Spiderman's Mary Jane, the always adorable Kirsten Dunst. This weekend I am in the process of moving back to Michigan and therefore only have the time to post this gem.

Have a lovely Sunday!!

photo via fixster

The Great Outdoors

2011-10-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

This time of year is the ideal time to enjoy your morning coffee in an outdoor space...that is if you're one of the fortunate ones with access to such a space. Check out some of my favorite outdoor patios...they're cozy, rustic, simple and some come with unbelievable views...

Simple table and beautiful chairs on a rooftop deck...wonderful.

Can I please live in this adorable shack.

YES THAT IS A BATHTUB. YES THAT IS AMAZING.

I'm fantasizing about these amazing escapes while I get ready to leave South Carolina's extended summer and enter a full fledged Michigan autumn.

photos via desire to inspire and design sponge

Sartorial Daytrip: Savannah, GA

2011-09-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

A week ago I drove down to Savannah for the day, it's a trip I had been wanting to take all summer. I finally got the chance to meet up with the lovely and wonderful Allie Morris (click on her name to check out her amazing blog). Here are some photos from the day (mostly of the parks and scenery)...I promise there are more to come, they'll be popping up around here for a while.

The day started with an ominous and sometimes VERY rainy drive. They don't call this "the lowcountry" for nothin', totally flat and marshy for miles. There was such beautiful scenery I couldn't help but snap some pics...yeah I probably should have stopped the car...

Lunch at Zunzi's!! This is Brinton, he was excited about introducing me to the Conquistador.

After lunch I spent the day roaming and found all of these beautiful places, and the amazing squares that are scattered throughout Savannah!

Totally stalking this beautiful garden...

Forsyth Park was amazing, so lush and pretty. I really loved that Savannah has an element of grit to it that is not apparent in Charleston...yup I loved it.

I wish all parking signs were this cute...and I know it's very simple, but the two toned parking meters add so much character.

Allie and I at Green Truck Pub for dinner! So happy I could make the trip and spend the day with this lady, it's been a long time coming!

Lyons Den

2011-09-27T10:21:00.000-04:00

Jenna Lyon's home is the interior design equivalent of the thoughts, images and ideas that race through my head non-stop. As the creative director for J.Crew she obviously spends her time around people with great design aesthetic and perfect style all of the time (not to mention her own phenomenal style), and her home reflects this. Like the brand itself it's not frilly, but it's gorgeous.

For starters Jenna couldn't be more adorable!

Love the combo of the rustic table and modern seating...

Gorgeous office space, SO in love with the yellow luggage.

I am totally hooked on the idea of black walls in a bedroom...I think it immediately cozies up the space, and with this rug, it is idyllic. The comforter adds enough light that the room doesn't feel too heavy. NEED IT NOW.

No words for her "closet" or more appropriately, her dressing room.

photos via British Vogue by Todd Selby

Sartorial Compass: Jennifer Connelly The Top 5

2011-09-25T11:56:00.004-04:00

In Jennifer's last week as Sartorial Compass I am highlighting my top 5 all time favorite looks of hers. And judging by the current trajectory, her style is still evolving and getting better with time. This is just the beginning.

1. When I first saw Jennifer Connelly in this dress, I knew she was a fashion force to be reckoned with. She obviously looks great in short hemlines and the color was amazing on her!

2. This dress is Givenchy I believe, and she couldn't possibly look cooler. The cutouts add edge, but then the puffed sleeves give it a ladylike twist.

3. She wore this Lanvin dress to the premiere of The Dilemma in Chicago (missed my chance to be her bff) and looks amazzinnnggg wearing it as a maternity dress. Love the color and her makeup looks amazing!

4. There's not much I love more than a navy & black combo, and this one is super special with the detailed overlay.

5. Love this classic made cool look, the blouse is fun and quirky, and the shoes are the perfect way to cap off the outfit.

Go for the unexpected this week, but keep your look classic as well. Jennifer we will miss you! Stay tuned, next week begins a new month & a new Sartorial Compass!

p.s. I added a button for my pinterest page...follow me, it's fun! Also I recently surpassed 2,000 blog views...so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Keep coming back, fun things are on the horizon.

Denim Dreamin'

2011-09-24T12:32:00.002-04:00

Very rarely do I leave my apartment wearing no form of denim. This summer that has meant wearing my Levi's denim vest at least every other day, a couple of mild days in jeans, and about 3 wears of my denim jacket. Simply stated denim is and always has been my wardrobe staple. Below I've documented a few of my favorite denim moments.

I am totally down with denim-on-denim (when it's done right) and who better to pull it off than the unbelievably gorgeous Joan Smalls at London Fashion Week, she breaks it up with a perfect worn in leather belt.

Great interpretations of classic American style in the above pics! P.S. how cute are Jenna Lyons' and Joanna Hillman in their glasses!

And these two looks are great uses of denim on the top...how I love a chambray shirt!

photos via sincerely jules, tommy ton x style.com, refinery29

Fall Favorites

2011-09-21T09:35:00.000-04:00

I adore autumn for plenty of reasons so I want to share with you a few of my favorite things about fall. Everybody has their favorite fall treats, these are mine...

Okayyy so I'm making apple crisp on Friday and I cannot wait, I'm making a recipe that includes blueberries too, so I'm pretty sure it's going to be wonderful! The middle photo is a fig bruschetta with goat cheese, last year I discovered the magic of figs while working at Floriole Bakery in Chicago. And lastly (going against everything I believe in) the Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks...SO SO DELICIOUS.

These are a few other things that get me excited about autumn...

First and foremost, the COLORS! So excited about the greens, yellows, tans, reds, and oranges! The dress is from the Valentino F/W 2011, love the color combo and the long sheer sleeves, the other runway image is from Chloe F/W 2011 with some great high waist denim and that beautiful gold blouse. I cannot wait to wear leather jackets like the one above from J.Crew! The booties are from Aldo I'm pretty sure they'd be a great addition to my fall wardrobe! Lastly, I cherish autumn for the new nail polish colors!! The one in the photo is A-Taupe the Space Needle and I can't wait to get my hands on it...or it on my hands?

Sartorial Compass: Jennifer Connelly & Her Bettany Boo

2011-09-18T12:26:00.000-04:00

Fashionable couples are too cute for words, take for example a couple at a restaurant that I spotted recently; he was in slim fitting jeans rolled up to show off his cool shoes and plaid shirt, and she in denim cutoffs, grommeted booties a tank and really great hair, their styles were perfectly in sync. Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly also have a synched up style. No hoopla, just two people who've been together for a while looking adorable out and about together, take a look at their cutest pictures as a pair...

Paul Bettany is charming and attractive in a somewhat unconventional way...but if you've ever seen the movie Wimbledon then you understand why I adore him.

Love her maternity look in the last photo, and they're so young!

The couple that rocks coordinating leather looks together...stays together.

Love the last pic, pretty much I just like them as a couple soo yeah, no sartorial message other than AWW.

photos via: justjared, splash and the internet

Super Saturday

2011-09-17T10:42:00.000-04:00

Last week Saturday was my first Saturday off in quite some time, so I made BIG plans! Earlier in the week I had been running errands for my internship and stumbled upon the flier for the "Holy City Artist & Fleas" flea market. And there was a restaurant I had been dying to try for a while so around noon I set out on my day.

Eye Level Art is a little bit gallery, music venue and flea market. It's the perfect place for this, and I enjoyed wandering and looking around. The jewelry above was so pretty, and I loved the way it was displayed, a beautiful organized mess.

Indigo & Cotton is my favorite store that I can't shop at...sadly it's just for the dudes, but eye candy nonetheless. Cool brands, amazing ties, I love it!

In this Charleston neighborhood that is part run-down and part adorable I also stumbled upon Mac & Murphy a local paper company, they carry some things by Paper Source and so so so many adorable cards. My favorite find was the Pantone post cards.

I walked past this beautiful house and couldn't help myself from taking the pic!

My trigger fish sandwich at Two Boroughs Larder was DELISHHHH! I will definitely be going back there, I loved it!

Love this photo of the graveyard. And last but not least..........

The Michigan v. Notre Dame game was AMAAAAAZING. The absolute perfect way to cap off my day...and my new tee has been deemed a good luck charm! Another super Saturday is here (and today it feels like fall!!!!)...enjoy it!

Best of Streetstyle at NYFW

2011-09-15T09:50:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again, as Leandra Medine would call it "the olympics of man repelling." Personal style is the reason that fashion is so fascinating to me, everybody has a distinct point of view and personality and seeing it come through in what they wear is so cool. New York Fashion Week is just about over, and these are a few of my favorite things...

She. Never. Fails.

Cozy and cool, Jenny Kang.

Miroslava, my favorite Russian fashion nugget. So cute.

Gretchen from project runway...this is such a phenom outfit, with an unexpected color combo.

The girls of shopbop.

Nicole Warne from Gary Pepper vintage...LOVE that she loves a pop of color[s],

photos via craig arend, sartorialist, tommy ton for style.com, mr newton, citizen couture, mark iantosca

Glamorous Roadtrippin' in Oz

2011-09-13T10:47:00.000-04:00

While strolling around Fashion Gone Rogue the other day I came upon this beautiful editorial from the pages of Harper's Bazaar Australia's September issue. Photographed by Will Davidson and styled by Jillian Davison, they totally transport you to another time and place, check it out...

Beautiful combination of 40's glamour and Australian desert/countryside...I guess they would consider that...the Outback?!

Like this post from Vogue Latin America about a month ago...there's just something about the foreign publications that seem to use the beautiful natural settings that they have access to more liberally than U.S. publications. We have mountains, deserts (probably used the most...), great lakes (and by great I mean H.O.M.E.S.-look it up), forests etc... And all I ever see are U.S. editorials featuring jagged architecture and New York City. I'm a callin' for a change, who's with me?!

Sartorial Compass: Jennifer Connelly Covergirl

2011-09-11T11:32:00.003-04:00

With her striking features it's no wonder she is a magazine cover star! Continuing her reign as September's Sartorial Compass here are some of Jennifer's coolest covers and editorial features from all over...

This Vogue cover itself isn't my favorite, but i LOVE the editorial...the center photo in the white pants is insane!

These photos by Mert & Marcus for V are super simple, but beautiful, and I love the cover!

Simply love this cover...

This is a photo from Marie Claire...again so STRIKING. And in case those all weren't awesome enough, feast your eyes on this stunner...

So apparently in the 80's when she was trying to get her acting career going J-Con was a model. Doing the 80's right gurl!!

On a more somber note remembering 9.11.2001 today, can't believe it's been 10 years...love to all of those who lost. And switching gears again happy birthday to my girl Katie Pio...living life in NYC, hope you have the best day!

[NO] Labor Day

2011-09-10T11:38:00.000-04:00

I spent my labor day hanging around Charleston. First up, I spent some time in the sun at the battery writing in my journal and reading. This was my wonderful view...

I tend to get very detailed in my journal and while I was wrapping up my writing for the day, I realized that I'm going to need a new journal soon. So I embarked on a trip to the Old Village Mt. Pleasant. A super cute neighborhood right across the Cooper River from downtown Charleston. I stopped at a shop called Out of Hand and found my new weakness...

I had fun playing with effects in picasa today. On this street you'll remember from the Notebook Allie shoves ice cream in Noah's face...so cute!

I can see myself getting in trouble here...but sadly no luck in the new journal department this labor day, but it was well worth the trip out!

Some adorable places in old village, the beautiful Presbyterian Church, a super cute house and the Posthouse restaurant. I'm off for a day of adventures...photos to come from my fun-filled day! Enjoy the beautiful Saturday, college football and oh yeah...GO BLUE!!

Missoni x Target Shopping List

2011-09-07T08:58:00.002-04:00

With exactly 6 days until the launch of Missoni x Target I'm nailing down my wishlist. I'm less interested in the clothes than I am the home goods...such is life and growing up I guess. But I thought I'd get it all out there and post my must-haves, my maybe's and the really awkward stuff and see what you think...

MUST HAVES:

First up, the silky kimono top (technically meant for the bedroom), I think it would awesome over a simple black dress or belted with jeans. The socks I LOVE, I think they'll look so cute with my suede open toed clogs and skinny's! The trays and the throw are nice touches of Missoni without being overbearing.

MAYBE'S:

So the cocktail set is adorable...but I'm pretty sure my wallet won't permit and I don't use a cocktail shaker in my day-to-day life, I think it would be a better investment for me to buy the cups and saucers. The notepads and organizational stuff is super cute too, but again, not something that I need and I probably can't afford those things. The sweater is a men's sweater, but I love it, it's not trying as hard as the women's stuff. What are your thoughts?? Suggestions (wallet permitting)?

NOT SO GOOD TO BE BAD...

So I really do love Missoni...but WHAT were they thinking with some of these patterns. The floral pattern is not my favorite, but seems ok in small doses. The blue is terrible, and the way they styled the outfit with the sweater set and skirt makes me want to cry. Lastly the outdoor furniture is horrible! They should have made outdoor furniture seat cushions or something, the whole thing ended up looking cheap.

Last but not least...IN MY DREAMS:

SO cute....oooh man I love it!! But with a $400 price tag it's definitely not going to happen. What are you all planning to buy?

photos from target via fashionista.com