Forget Me Not

When I was in kindergarten, my teacher used to be a red string around my finger to remind me of things because I was so forgetful.

Now that I'm older - and just as forgetful - I think this adorable Rachel Leigh ring is a much chicer option. If I could have this little ring on my finger, I don't think I'd forget anything ever again. Or at least I'd have something to cheer me up when I'm searching for lost car keys/cramming to do that last minute homework/standing around, looking lost, trying to remember what exactly I was just going to do...

Just Purchased

I'm slightly embarrassed to say this but... I just bought a pair of Aerosoles shoes. And I love them, in spite of the look on my mom's face when she saw the bag and asked incredulously if I really bought Aerosoles. Yeah. I did. I know, I could hardly believe it myself.

I don't know what possessed me to go into the store, but I'm glad I did. The shoes are brown leather sling back heels (above). They're comfortable, and cute, and only $20!!! (it says $30 on the site but they were $20 in store...oh, and they used to be $90!).

I wore them with ankle socks and my dark wideleg jeans that I've been dying to wear if I could only find the right shoes, and I'm already picturing how great they'll look with a flowery, floaty summer dress. And I still can't walk in heels - even though it was one of my New Year's resolutions to perfect the skill - and even I could walk comfortably in them.

So who knows, I might even buy another pair. Is it just me, or are their loafers kind of really cute?

Katie, Purple, and Prints

Crazy personal life aside, it's undeniable that Katie Holmes has impeccable style. Over the past few years she (or her stylist) has mastered the art of mixing ladylike pieces with fun, young touches. She doesn't dress like the average starlet, but still manages to look on trend, playing with prints and proportions.

I love this combination of subtle black and white print with the unexpected pop of purple Louboutins. Any other celebrity would've paired the dress with black pumps, or red, if they were feeling adventurous. This combo is understated and original.

It's completely inspiring, especially since I've been loving purple lately - and the color was big on the runways this season. I'll be pairing muted prints like black and white plaid or stripes with jewel-toned accessories, like a colorful patent leather belt or beaded jewelry.

Valentine's Day II

I was going to include this with the last post, but it was getting kind of long so...

I don't know if this is an offshoot of my momentary obsession with nameplate necklaces from back when Sex and the City was on the air, but I've been loving initial jewelry lately.
Initial jewelry is perfect for Valentine's Day because you can get the initials of your boyfriend or girlfriend, or you can get both your initials together.

Day-lab.com has a great selection of vintage initial necklaces, bracelets, and rings.
I really like these initial heart rings (above), esp. for V-Day.

For something more custom, Emily & Ashley makes really beautiful gold pendants (below). They can be engraved with up to three letters.

Happy shopping!

Valentine's Day

So yeah, I know, Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but as my boyfriend is absolutely hopeless at gift-giving (it's difficult to explain to a guy why Marc Jacobs is sooo much better than Coach and David Yurman is sooo much better than generic Tiffany's), I decided it's up to me to get myself the perfect gift.

Fred Flare is the greatest place to find cute, personal gifts for your loved ones (and yourself) and they even have an entire category devoted to Valentine's Day.

Some of my favorites:

omg I kind of need these.

Not just for Valentine's day, just for life in general. They'd be so cute on the beach... and then you don't have to worry about sand on your expensive sunglasses.





This hot cocoa mix is so sweet! (ew pun not intended).

I love the little heart marshmallows. It even says "Happy Valentine's Day" on the back.





This egg mold allows you to make perfect heart-shaped eggs. It doesn't say on the site, but I'm guessing you could use it for pancakes too.

So romantic. (and if you hide the mold after you make the eggs, then it's also rather impressive).




And of course, what would Valentine's Day be without chocolate? While I love Godiva truffles with a passion, I think V-day calls for something extra special.


Mariebelle chocolates are printed with little pictures, for Valentine's Day they're printed with "in love" images, so each one is like a little valentine. Plus they taste amazing, in flavors like Lavender, Earl Grey Tea, and Champagne.




Have a very happy Valentine's Day!

Gossip Girl Lives!

The writer's strike is over!!! And you know what that means... new Gossip Girl epsiodes!!!!! finally.
The rumor now is that there will be new GG episodes beginning in a few weeks (they said something like 8 weeks, but I'm choosing to ignore that and hope they mean one or two), and that new episodes will air into the summer.

So I guess that means I can finally stop reading and re-reading the newest Vogue and get my Blake Lively fix elsewhere. My world is at peace again.

Deja Vu

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the Gap?

Well as if I needed more proof of how fabulous it is...

Today I was virtual window shopping (as usual), when I noticed that a cute Alexander Wang tee on shopbop looked strangely familiar. Later, browsing the Gap website, I realized why. Their new pleated tunic - though less structured and of a different material - is almost identical to the A. Wang top.
The only major difference? The Gap version is over $700 less.

Tiny Dancer

I did ballet for many, many years when I was younger, and although it was fun - and definitely a workout - my favorite part was always the costumes. I loved the little pink shoes, the tights, and the tutus. In fact, I still love them.
Although the tutus are probably best left to Carrie Bradshaw, I can still relive my dancing days thanks to Bloch. The famous ballet shoe company has come out with new ballet flats made for the street. The shoes retain their classic styling, but have pearlized leather and come in a variety of colors like gold and navy blue. Perfect for putting a little spring in your step.

Loving: Luxury Basics

My style is generally pretty simple. I'm mostly a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, as unfortunately my lifestyle doesn't call for anything much more extravagant than that on a daily basis. But I like to make my outfits more interesting with accessories like vintage jewelry, cute shoes, and embellished headbands.

That's why I love this Alexander Wang tank. It's cut casually, but in a luxe fabric and a vibrant color. I'd wear it with a pair of denim cutoffs in the spring to add a little extra something to my everyday look. It could also be dressed up by tucking in into a high-waisted skirt with a cropped cardigan, tights, and adorable flats.

Watch Hunt

I've been searching for the perfect big watch for a long time now. It's tricky because I have very small wrists so it really does have to be exactly right to save from looking ridiculous.

Of course if I could have anything I want in the world, I would get the Chanel J12, but since that's not possible...



I considered Toywatch for a while (and still am). Their use of plastic and enamel is definitely reminiscent of the J12, but I can't quite get myself to commit to one.











I also kind of like the Michael Kors watch collection. He has some great oversize watches, and I even like some from the men's collection.












Recently I saw some Swiss Army watches and thought they looked nice - kind of a mix between Rolex and Cartier, but slightly more durable looking.







In the meantime, I've just been wearing an old black plastic Swatch that I found in my mom's jewelry drawer. My first watch was a Swatch, and I just kind of love their quirky details and styling. Then, when I was shopping in Brooklyn the other day, a saleswoman was wearing a nice black watch. When I complimented her on it, she said it was a Swatch she'd just bought. Hmm... maybe I should get a Swatch?

*(yes, I am fully aware it's Fashion Week. However, because I'm totally bummed that I live a mere hour from New York and have yet to gain access inside the tents, I'm not going to be reporting on the collections for now. Especially because much more informed and well-connected Fashionistas have it covered.)