get inspired

im always looking in magazines and on-line for inspiration for new looks. ideas on how to rework my wardrobe so i don't have to keep buying new things. j.crew is one of the many websites i am constantly getting inspiration from. the magazine, the website, they are fabulous! their stylists are brillant with the combinations they put together with all the right accessories. just taking a look through their website will instantly get you thinking about how you can rework that sweater stuffed at the top of your closet!

here are some of my favorite looks that j.crew is featuring right now. and if you are patient, most of these items will probably be going on sale in the next few weeks before christmas!

men, bundle up

well, a few of my guy friends have requested i pay them a little attention by focusing a few blogs a month dedicated to them. or for that matter, girls who can help their significant others in the fashion department. now, i rarely give mens fashion advice due to the fact that most men tend to be less open-minded about expanding their wardrobe (gee, go figure). i do most of the shopping for my better half although some purchases do go back after quickly getting shot down. oh well, we all can't be married to a gq model can we?!

my first posting will focus on mens outerwear. for my men up north, have fun with your seasonal jackets because you probably will need a few. as for my men down south, keep it more simple since you will not be wearing jackets as often. my hubby has a northface jacket, casual jacket and black overcoat for dressier occasions and this is more than enough for him. in fact, he thinks it is completely ridiculous that he has 3 jackets and believes this to be unnecessary. oh my....men, they will never understand!


polo ralph lauren, down puffer vest-$138.60
stop rolling your eyes guys, vest are cool. wear with a simple long sleeve tee shirt or collared shirt underneath. this is an easy look to wear and will expand your wardrobe. you can leave the scarf at home.



michael kors, cropped snorkel parka-$486.50
a rugged jacket, with a fashionable twist. don't let the furry hood scare you. women like fur. at least the fashionable ones do.



kenneth cole, short fuse jacket-$120
classic, basic black jacket with a nice price tag.



gap, field jacket-$79.99
love the causal, outdoorsy look. men please note: do not wear khaki coat with khaki pants. it's the same concept as a jean jacket with jeans. it's.not.okay.



diesel, lamados leather jacket-$406
aj rolled his eyes when i showed him this jacket. but what does he know? i love it! for you northern guys, rock this look and you will get complimented.

juicy green apple

every time i see this color green, i just want to eat an apple. its crisp. its fresh. and it will surely brighten up any outfit when worn. darker shades inevitably make their way into your wardrobe come fall and winter. plum, burnt orange, chocolate and navy are all just a few staple colors that you will probably be wearing over the next few months. this juicy apple green hue is a great way to add a burst of color to your darker fall/winter wardrobe.





gara danielle, turquoise ring-$128
a great cocktail ring for the holidays



banana republic, leather driving gloves-$69.50
ahhh...if only i needed gloves in the 85 degree winters in florida



marc by marc jacobs, totally turnlock key pouch-$68
use as your fall/winter go-to clutch



sugar lips, boatneck dress-$78
wear with a leather jacket, tights and flats for a causal day look



anthropologie, bubbly cardigan-$129
wear a printed long sleeved tee underneath, skinny jeans and riding boots

watches that wrap

i love finding cute, sensible accessories at ultra affordable prices. recently, i stumbled across this brand of watches which i am loving! they have a ton of different looks in all shades, sizes and hardware. and, for around $100 its okay if you only get a couple seasons use out of one. this watch is the perfect accessory especially since it doubles as a bracelet. add some bangles for a stacked look and your all set. when life doesn't allow you hermes, opt for la mer instead.




red with gold studs-$96



brown-$90



grey-$84


gold pyramid wrap-$110




creme python-$96



bronze-$76

dress up a little

so, this is my last posting on holiday dresses for the time being. i have tried to find a variety of silhouettes, low price points and classic dresses that can be worn season after season. i hope that everyone has found at least one look they might think about trying for the holidays. if anyone has any suggestions that they would like for me to look into, let me know!


sl fashions, rosette trim taffeta dress-$80



max and cleo, sleeveless ruffled dress-$148



leyendecker, serpentine shift dress-$173.90



french connection, ribbon knit dress-$168



cynthia rowley, printed silk sleeve dress-$167.99



aqua, brocade combo dress-$98

show a little skin

as promised, here are some more dresses i thought would be really cute for the upcoming holidays. all of these dresses would look great with a bomber jacket, printed/floral tights and killer booties or sky high stilettos. i will continue on my holiday dress blitz tomorrow so stay tuned for even more options.




scott mcclintock, strapless two tone dress-$168



moulinette soeurs, golden light dress-$188



lucca couture, studded party dress-$78



gianni bini, tessa dress-$148



bcbg, strapless silk chiffon dress-$298

brush your shoulders off

can you believe it is already november 18th? the year is flying by and the holidays are rapidly approaching. this means christmas parties, social outings and new years which all require the perfect outfit. i have been searching for some reasonably priced holiday get-ups so this will be the first post of many so keep checking back.



lucca couture, one shoulder draped dress-$78



french connection, something special dress-$128




french connection, georgia dress-$109.99




bcbgeneration, one shoulder mini dress-$108

the latest and greatest idea

even though i'm not a celebrity and i'm not being photographed in us weekly, i still have a hard time re-wearing cocktails dresses over and over again. why do they always feel less special the second time around?!? well, i found (with the help of my fab nyc friend) the best solution to this problem. rent.the.runway. the dress gods from above have started this genius idea for someone to be able to rent a dress for the night. prices vary from $50 and up depending on the designer and they will send you 2 sizes to ensure proper fitting. so, for those extra special events where you want to look your best, check out this great website. for a $50 rental a night, everyone can think that herve leger dress came from your closet!

here is a dress i love in bright lavender...happy shopping!

catherine malandrino, retails $595-yours for the night, $75

wrist candy

i never feel "done" if my wrists leave the house naked. throwing on a fabulous bracelet is a really easy way to make a boring outfit a little more interesting. i love the layered bracelet look, the more the better. don't be afraid to mix metals and different colors. today, anything goes so be creative and get a little daring.


chanel, cc link bracelet-$1210
obviously, a pretty fabulous bracelet with a hefty price attached.



av max, pantheon leather medium bangle-$32.30

amrita singh, hamptons bangles-$108

available in more colors

giles and brother, brass wrap bracelet-$89

love the masculine feel, mix up your outfit and pair with a really feminine dress.

giles and brother, railroad spike cuff-$88

love this bronzed metal and the heavy feel, layer with more delicate bangles.

pade vavra, panther cuff-$220

weekly budget finds!

this week i focused on textered tights for my budget finds. cold weather is here to stay for the next few months so pull out your dresses, dust off your boots and buy some tights! i tend to gravitate towards black lace/textered tights and love wearing bright shoes or booties with them. there are plenty of bright colored tights available and in the next few weeks i will do a posting on some different colors i like.


wolford, flora tights-$55

kate spade, open lace herringbone tights-$38

juicy couture, lace tights-$54

hue, lacy new tights-$12.50

betsy johnson, all wrapped up tights-$26

bebe, embellished lace tights-$19