Bye-Bye Blisters

I love a great pair of flats, but I hate how uncomfortable some of them can be. I often limit myself to less put-together looking elasticated flats to spare myself the blisters.
Browsing the Net-a-Porter site, I came across these great Marc Jacobs flats. They're simple and classic, but the back is cut away, with only a thin elastic band holding them on your feet. They seem like the perfect solution to awful rubbing heels. Hope this catches on. (Plus I love the way they're styled!)

Novel Idea

As an English major, I am constantly reading one novel after another. The second I finish one, I have to pick up the next to keep up with my fast-paced lit class. But sometimes, a novel I read stays with me, influencing me in ways I wouldn't have expected.

I recently read Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, about the struggle of Native Americans to retain old traditions in a changing world. Silko's descriptions Native American ceremonies, the costumes and headdresses, has made me seek out these traditional influences in modern clothing.

I found great beaded sandals by Jeffrey Campbell, beaded bracelets with boho patterns, and even a metal "feather necklace". I especially love the sturdy shape of the necklace's pendant.

And it turns out I'm not the only one embracing Native American embellishments. One of my friends wore a patterned beaded belt with jeans a couple days ago that reminded me of one I had as a kid. She found it at a local flea market... So I guess you know where I'll be next weekend!

H&M City Guides

I was surfing the web between classes this afternoon (as usual) when I came across the H&M website. In their menu on the site, they have a link called "City Guides". I clicked on it and it turns out they have tourist guides to major international cities - London, Paris, Shanghai, etc. There are insider tips on the best food and shopping in each city, and some video clips of fashionable women actually visiting the places mentioned.

This feature isn't exactly new - if I had to guess I'd say they've been doing it since about 2006 - but it's certainly news to me. It's interesting to watch the videos and live vicariously, and the guides are definitely a must-read before you travel. They mention a great looking vintage shop in Rome that I wish I'd know about when I visited last year. Oh well. I'll make it back there eventually...hopefully.

Girl Meets Dress

My obsession with Vena Cava has been going on for a long time now, but their gorgeous dresses are a tad expensive, so I've been holding out for the perfect one (and praying for them to collaborate on a Target Go collection).

Then I encountered their "Topanga" dress and fell in love. It combines two of my fave things - pretty dresses and Boy Meets World. Maybe it's a sign. But even if this dress isn't my dress, the name definitely solidifies my love of the Vena Cava girls.

Blah Blah Blog

An article on WWD.com today about bloggers' place in the fashion world made me start to wonder about my own place in the blogging world. This blog is relatively new; I'm still trying to find my style, my stride. Sometimes I feel discouraged because I see other blogs doing similar things so much more successfully. Or I wonder if my blog feels uninspired, because so much of fashion and style is zeitgeist, and bloggers end up writing about the same things at the same time.

This quote summed up part of my anxiety about my blog:
“A lot of people are focused on re-blogging stuff. It’s not actually media — it’s looking at photos and commenting on it. Fast, real-time shoots, sort of guerrilla fashion spreads, are the next revolution.” - Julie Fredrickson of Coutorture

I started this blog because I have a point of view about fashion and style that I wanted to share, and also because I thought it would be great practice for what I hope will be my career - fashion journalism. I'm still trying to find my own way to be relevant and original. Hopefully I'll get it down soon...

Heavy Metal

I love creative jewelry where the thought and work of the artist is evident in the piece. That's why I'm absolutely crazy about AU-750-IOS by Iosselliani.

The slightly quirky high-end jewelry line features semi-precious stones, gems, and metals combined in unexpected, beautiful ways. My favorite pieces are their stacked double rings and bracelets with twisted chains and charm-like embellishments. They also have a great, girly take on the classic ID bracelet.

Perfect for girls who want truly original pieces of jewelry with an edge.

Oh, The Hills..

In case you missed it, The Hills season premiere was on last night.

I barely even watched last season because the show is getting absolutely unbearable (I mean who really cares about Heidi and Spencer anyway??), and I wish they'd show more of what it's like to work in the fashion industry and less of what it's like to have a girl fight and go on awkward dates with semi-pretty boys who have nothing to say (because we all already know what that's like).

But I watched the premiere anyway because I had a paper to write...and really, what better way to squander away valuable time like watching MTV reality show spin-offs of MTV reality shows?

I won't say too much about it because honestly there's not much to say (and anything worth saying has already been said) but...

• If I was Lauren, I would have MTV create dramatic scenarios that didn't make me look like a self absorbed idiot (i.e. sewing a borrowed designer gown, wearing said gown to a smoky club, burning gown...etc.)
• Omg, I wish I could go to France!
• Great song, better in Sex and the City (I've been listening to it on repeat all day)
• I'm willing to bet Whitney will never mispronounce "Givenchy" again (why wouldn't she beg them to edit that out?? Sooo embarrassing!).