as usual, shopbop’s seasonal markdowns have me lunging wildly for my credit card.  i didn’t find quite as much as i normally do, but there are still plenty of pieces i’m sure i can’t live without.  plus, these would all stroll seamlessly into my fall wardrobe, which is really all i care about these days.

the dkny cozy ($137): i’ll admit, it baffles me a little.  but there’s a whole iphone app dedicated to sharing the thousand ways there are to wear it, and i dig the camel shade for fall.  i haven’t seen these marked down before, so if you’re already loving the look, this might be the time to jump.

geren ford paneled sweater ($125):  i know, i know, i said no more stripes.  but old habits die hard, and this is such a classic! i’d love to see this layered under a tweed blazer for fall.

james jeans humphrey high rise flare ($126):  rises are on their way back up, and trouser jeans are finally, finally becoming a bit easier to find.  pounce on this classic pair now, and your style problems for fall are solved.

joie martine blouse ($139):  these floaty silk blouses will be everywhere this fall – add them to those trouser jeans above and throw on a cozy scarf in a contrasting pattern for a perfectly chic fall look.  the pattern choices are virtually endless, but i love the soft, ethereal quality of the grey and cream here, and the pleated placket is just a bonus.  this bolder version from patterson j kincaid was a close second, though, and half the price!

as for my buys, i can’t even believe i’m saying this, but i think i’m going to make a full-price splurge on this alexander wang tee.  it’s utterly ridiculous, i know, but his knits are just unbearably soft, and they drape so well!  i’m not even a white tee girl, and i know i’ll be wearing this one to death.

hello, dear readers! i’m back from my much-needed sabbatical and, while i suspect posting will be lighter this week as i ease my way back in (and continue to ignore summer fashion as much as possible), i just couldn’t stay away any longer.

lately, i’ve been feeling a bit “over” the big statement necklaces we’ve been wearing the last couple of years.  i’m ready for simple, thoughtful pieces that make a subtle statement, but are still big on style.  maybe with a little bit of color.  and if the designer figured out a way to make it look like i managed to perfectly coordinate a pair of pendants too, well, that would just be icing on the cake.

designer nicola yoon seems to have been reading my mind.  aren’t these just the most elegant necklaces?!  i can envision just about any of them becoming my new signature piece.  i love the touch of color that would be perfect year-round to accent my perpetually neutral wardrobe. and the pricing is absolutely perfect, with most piece in the $100-150 range…well, except for that moonstone and garnet necklace, but it was too stunning not to include.

with a birthday coming up next week, i can only hope that one of these stunners ends up in my jewelry box…the brighter, the better!

dear readers, i think it’s time i take a little summer vacation.  i have not a single stylish idea left in my heat-fried brain.  so i’m taking a few days to cool off, recharge my styling engines, and hopefully come back refreshed and ready to dive into pre-fall.

if you just can’t stand the idea of us not chatting – and believe me, it pains me too – be sure to track me down on twitter, as i’m sure i won’t be able to stay away entirely.  but as for the blog, i’ll see you all back here in a few!

(how beautiful is that photo, by the way?  don’t you just want to be that girl, on that beach, with that beautiful umbrella?  looks like the photographer who snapped this is on vacation too, but i suspect i’ll be ordering a copy when she’s back.)

with the weather being as swelteringly hot as it’s been lately, i’m sorry, but heavy cuffs and statement necklaces just aren’t an option.  instead, i head for the lightest, sweetest pieces i can find…but i still want maximum impact to offset summer’s perma-casual style.  and nearly every day this summer, gorjana has been my go-to for those perfect light, high-impact pieces.

their wrap necklaces are especially perfect when the weather gets hot.  most are a generous 46″ long, which means the styling options are endless.  leave it long, and it’s just right to doll up a tank dress, or double (or even triple) it for a more casual look with a tee and shorts (the doubled version is also gorgeous under a buttoned blouse at work).  either way, it’s utterly weightless, but still makes a statement.  this shimmer wrap necklace is my personal favorite right now, but to be honest, gorjana’s wrap necklaces are an addiction of mine…i own more than i should!

ditto for these chic little leather wrap bracelets (best left for those of you with thin wrists, i have to admit).  i get all of that bold, bright color without the weight of my heavy enamel bangles.  plus, i love the barely-there stud detailing.  at $55 each, they’re an easy way to give yourself a little end-of-summer treat.

(can’t help but love this image, by the way…it’s so rainbow brite-slash-punky brewster!)

in other exciting news, the lovely people at gorjana emailed last week to let me know they’d redesigned their website, and i am thrilled with the results.  sometimes simple is better, and when it comes to online shopping, i’m a girl with simple needs. bigger photos, no flash, easy to link…i’m a happy blogger!

i’ve been seeing a resurgence of loafers in my september mags this year, and it’s no surprise.  designers are returning to ladylike classics with menswear touches, and a loafer is the perfect way to add a dash of masculine energy to keep a girly look from going too far over the frilly fringe.

there are options out there at the highest of price points – i especially love the versions from elizabeth and james, and tods, but both are pretty cost-prohibitive.  but honestly, when a classic style like this comes back around, i think sometimes it pays to look back to the classic sources. and when it comes to a loafer, my first thought is still bass.

sure enough, they didn’t disappoint.  bass has updated their classic loafer with a shorter vamp (creating a more feminine shape), and a funky cumin color to give the right dose of edgy, but kept the price point downright cheap at $65.  i’d wear these with cuffed boyfriend jeans now, and a silk blouse (like, say, this one i picked up recently) with menswear trousers for fall…either way, they’re a great way to indulge in the men’s-inspired shoe trend without going the route of the overdone oxford.

i absolutely love the look of this dries van noten blazer from the august issue of vogue, but at $1,300, it’s unlikely i’ll ever even see it in person, let alone own it.  but ever since i spotted it, i can’t help wondering just how hard it would be to recreate on a budget.

image from vogue, august 2010

i’m envisioning a thrifted (or otherwise cheaply obtained) camel or tweed blazer (i found dozens on etsy), maybe a size or two larger than you’d normally wear.  take it to your trusty tailor, along with this photo, and just ask for three exaggerated accordion pleats on either side, right above the pockets, to create that sharp definition at the narrowest part of your waist (you’ll want a larger size jacket to allow for space to create those pleats).

you’ll also probably want the shoulders taken in just a bit, and maybe even need the sleeves narrowed a bit – since the rest of the jacket was purposely too large, you’ll want those sleeves trimmed up to fit you properly.  and, assuming it’s an old-style, two-button blazer, feel free to have her add a third button and buttonhole to make it a perfect three-button blazer.

it’s major reconstructive surgery, i’ll grant you, but i think you could get it done for $50-75 (much cheaper if you don’t need the shoulder/sleeve work done).  add on the $25 you spent for the blazer in the first place, and you have a serious style fix for under $100 (original will set you back nearly $1,300).  not bad when you consider the thousand ways you’ll find to wear your creation.

now to nab that slouchy grey sweater underneath…

i’ve been cruising the “what’s new” section at shopbop a little too much this week, and there are more than a few accessories that i just can’t get out of my head.

starting at the top, from left:  loeffler randall meg booties ($575) that i still can’t figure out how i’d wear, but love nonetheless.  if there’s one thing on this list i’ll actually end up buying, it’s this vanessa mooney dagger necklace ($140), which would be absolutely beautiful layered with a longer pendant necklace – i think jewelry’s trending that way for fall.  gara danielle druzy ring ($144), just because it’s blingy and pretty.

as for the bottom row, from left: halston heritage stingray satchel ($495), an unbelievable steal for a style so luxe and unique, and i predict it’ll be gone in an instant.  tory burch eddie beaded flats ($175), which would look amazing peeking out from trouser jeans, or with a flippy black skirt right now. loeffler randall’s shearling lowe boots ($695) are a serious splurge, but they’re also a serious step up from uggs, with all the cozy warmth!

happy friday, everyone!

about this time every year, my brain transitions seasons…always a little earlier than the weather does (i blame my mountain of fashion mags, which have been tempting me with fall collections since june).  i suddenly find myself craving all things fall, even though the thermometer clearly reads summer.  so, i’ve been a bit at a loss:  do i drag you all into my fast-moving fashion calendar, or let you enjoy these last days of summer, dreaming of flip flops and floaty dresses?

for today, at least, i’m taking a step forward and showing off the pieces that have made the top of my must-have list for fall.  i fully expect additions to this list, but i know beyond a shadow of a doubt i’ll spend the next few months searching for the perfect version of each of these.

first up, it’s all about this outfit for me.  the slouchy heather grey v-neck, the camel skirt, and even that perfect waist-cinching corset belt.  as always, michael kors is classic perfection, and this look is the one i’m most excited about reliving for fall 2010.  (particularly since i think at least half of us already have the components in our closets!)

michael kors fall 2010 runway look 6, image from style.com

second on my list is the perfect pair of leopard flats.  true, leopard accessories are just about every “must have” list this fall, but i’d just like to say i’ve been on the hunt for these for months now.  to say i’ve searched high and low so far wouldn’t even come close.  it’s been agonizing.  i’ll share all the gory details later, but for now, just bask in the utter versatility and edgy chic of these little numbers.

image by garance dore

next up is the perfect (and i mean perfect) camel hair coat.  my mom bought a maxmara last year, and i nearly died from the sheer wonderfulness.  this year, there will be even more styles to choose from, what with camel being the color of the season.  this is definitely going to be a splurge (though nothing like mom’s maxmara indulgence), but one that will last a lifetime.  cost per wear, my friends.

maxmara fall 2009, look 1 (currently in my mother’s closet), image from style.com

finally, i’m so, so thrilled that classic, beautiful, wide leg trousers are back.  i can’t wait to dive into a pair in gorgeous charcoal wool, and maybe a second pair in that luscious camel i keep coming back to.  it’s not always the easiest look to pull off, especially if you’re shaped like anything other than a twig.  but we’ll come back to that, i promise.

celine resort 2011, look 14, image from style.com

and for now, that’s it.  these are the pieces i know will make my closet work hard for me over the next six months.  i have a feeling a belt or two may creep onto that list, and of course, the inevitable addition to my scarf collection.  but overall, this little handful of pieces is all i’m coveting for cooler weather.  the beauty of this year’s fall trends is that a few key pieces really can update so many things you already have in your closet.  i can hardly wait to show you how i’ll be doing it.

what’s on your wishlist for fall (so far)?

i’ve been promising you all a summer reading list for much too long.  the truth is that, since it’s just me, a girl can only read so many books over a summer and still get her shopping done!  but i do look forward to these long summer days…or, more to the point, long summer evenings in which i can sit on my front porch and read until 9, since there’s nothing but ‘mad men’ in the tivo the weather’s so lovely.

and so, a few books i’ve read and (mostly) loved so far this summer:

i wasn’t sure about the chelsea handler book, because my taste in humor books can be odd (see sloane crosley, below) but it ended up being hysterical, if only because i think she and i may have grown up in the same house.  if you ever coveted a cabbage patch doll, there’s a story in there for you that makes the whole book worthwhile.  it’s also a crazy fast read…i think it took me about three outings to peets to finish this one.  perfect for planes, trains and automobiles alike.

anne lamott could write out her grocery list and publish it, and i’d buy it.  her writing style is perpetually full of hope, wisdom, truth and humor, no matter how dire a circumstance.  i always come away from her books feeling a little bit better about life, and maybe even a little bit smarter.  this particular title is about a family dealing with a teenage daughter’s “recreational” bad habits – not a topic i’d expect to be excited by, but i loved it, and was sorry to see it end.  if you’re into smart fiction, this is the writer for you.

sloane crosley…oh, i want so badly to like her.  she reminds me a lot of david sedaris (who i also wish i liked).  her travel tales are great, but they’re not as uproariously funny as i’d expect from a book with a bear on the cover.  but i have a feeling if you like david sedaris, you’ll fall head over heels for sloane crosley.  in which case, you’ll also want to pick up her first book, i was told there’d be cake.

and in case you’re curious about what’s left on my list for the summer, a few titles i can’t wait to start:

barbara kingsolver’s new book, “the lacuna”, which just came out in paperback. i haven’t heard much about this title, but i have yet to read a kingsolver book i didn’t love.  i’m also looking forward to reading “the cookbook collector” by allegra goodman – it’s gotten such amazing press, i can’t wait to see if it’s as good as it sounds.  and, because i’ll need something easy and light after those two reads, i’m planning to sneak in emily giffin’s newest, “the heart of the matter” between the other two titles.

what are you reading this summer?

editor’s note: as you’ve probably noticed, my beauty reviews are always based on my own sensitive and perpetually dry skin (the very idea of testing a product designed to dry your skin terrifies me to my core).  regular SMC reader jennie noticed that those of you on the other side of the spectrum were getting left behind, and offered to help me remedy that by testing out a line of products for oil- and acne-prone skin. naturally, i couldn’t resist.  so, please welcome our guest reviewer, jennie!

Lately my skin has been less stable than Lindsay Lohan – and definitely as changeable as her legal representation. Normally, my skin is subject to the occasional blemish attack, but lately, it’s been one acne outbreak after another. Maybe it’s the extreme heat we’ve been suffering lately, the job search I’ve begun, or even that I’ve been lax in my prayers to the good skin gods…who can say?

All I knew is that I needed a solution, and fast. Compounding my skin stress was the fact that my go-to skin product had been discontinued…always a scary scenario.  Fortunately, I got the chance to check out the DDF skincare line, which addresses skin concerns ranging from acne to aging.  The amazing people at DDF sent over samples of their line of acne products for me to test, and I spent a full month giving them an exhaustive review.

From much experience, I’ve learned that when it comes to acne control, targeted cleansers and masks tend to be less important than treatment creams, which are the primary warriors on the frontline of acne warfare.  So while I liked the Blemish Foaming Cleanser and Sulfur Therapeutic Mask, I loved DDF’s three treatment products. I alternated between the Glycolic 10% Exfoliating Oil Control Gel, the Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, and the Acne Control Treatment. I used the Acne Control Treatment only at night (per the product instructions), but the other two I used both night and day, and was thrilled with the results!

The products were incredibly effective, and  did an amazing job of keeping my skin clear and happy.  Equally important, they didn’t make my skin red and irritated as is common with acne treatments. After using the Acne Control Treatment at night, I even noticed my skin tone was more even, and (dare I say) luminous.

All in all, DDF has struck the seemingly elusive balance between an effective yet gentle acne solution. These products are definitely going to be permanent fixtures in my battle for clear, perfect skin.

– jennie v.