not much to say about this darling except: perfect. spring. coat.

love the ruffle, the bright orange-red color, the 3/4 sleeve, and the flattering, fitted silhouette. i even love the price, which is much more reasonable than i was expecting.

nab it for $198 at jcrew.

i am so in love with these little cupcake trinket boxes by EmmaLitten, i hardly know where to begin. i am forever lacking in a place to put my “daily wear” jewelry – it somehow ends up on the window ledge in my kitchen, thrown haphazardly on my nightstand, or on the itsy bitsy shelf above my bathroom sink. all really safe places to keep some of the more valuable things i own, don’t you think?

but the reality is i’m just too plain lazy to seek out a better locale when the time comes. i’m thinking i can buy one for each of those locations i mentioned, and then i’ll be so excited to use the ceramic trinket bun (don’t you just love the name?) that i might actually put my valuables into something safe.

i also love (love) the idea of using these in a home office or craft area, as homes for paper clips, thumbtacks, and so on. the moral of the story? pick up a handful (they come in two sizes) and you’ll find uses for them absolutely everywhere. and don’t forget to check out the rest of emma’s positively gorgeous wares…i want one of just about everything this amazing potter makes.

i’ve been lusting after rebecca ciccio’s gorgeous handbag line for the longest time, but can’t seem to bring myself to invest in neutral colors for some reason. so when her fabulous octavia bag showed up in burnt orange, and in lusciously soft deerskin to boot, it was love at first sight.

this is one of those bags that’s big enough to work as a work tote, but it’ll slouch just beautifully when it’s less full, so you won’t feel like you’re carrying around a huge sack. the styling is perfectly chic and timeless, but the color isn’t so trendy that the bag will end up in the back of your closet by this time next year. in fact, something tells me this beauty will be the one you can’t keep from using day after day.

rebecca was sweet enough to share a preview of her spring colors with me, and they’re every bit as divine as her originals (they’ll be available online in a few weeks). there’s a very yummy butterscotch color (just like it sounds, a fabulous, rich, deep yellow/orange), and a teal that would be just the perfect pop of color all summer long. but, my heart still belongs to that fabulous burnt orange.

not all of rebecca’s bags are deerskin – she chooses the hide based on what will work best for the color. but each and every one is handmade, which is music to my ears. i love the octavia best, but the noe is a darling little mini-version that’s fantastic (though i wish it were available in more colors). for those of you that are messenger bag addicts, i think you’ll find the robertson is absolutely perfect.

most of her bags run about $500-600, but since her styles are so timeless, and her craftsmanship is so impeccable, this is a great way to purchase a bag with the traits of a really high-end piece without the pricetag. order online from rebecca’s website or, for my bay area readers, check out the goods in person at dress in san francisco, or number 5 in ross.

i remember the days when lucky arriving in my mailbox was the highlight of my month. lately, though, it feels like little more than a catalog, with a few useful coupons in the back. am i the only one?

anyway, it’s gotten to the point that i really feel the highlights of any issue can usually be summed up in about 5 minutes. let’s see if i’m right…

p. 86: i kind of liked that peach suede clutch by hype ($125, no online sourcing, sadly) – but probably not enough to buy it.

p. 95: i did love a couple of these ‘ethereal tanks’ – particularly the ones by eva franco (also, annoyingly, no online sourcing – are we sensing a trend?) and forever 21, the token bargain throw-in. the forever 21 version is long gone from the website, naturally, but you can get 25% off the eva franco top if you love it enough to call & order (see p. 254).

p. 243: randomly useful write-up on shopping in oakland, CA…hey, this i can actually use! you know, if i remember to tear out the page and not lose it in the sea of paper on my desk.

p. 247: love that knit necklace by jorge morales…and it’s under $100. fabulous!

p. 249: ooh, gorjana discount code?? hmm. no…just another stupid giveaway. how i’ve never won, given the sheer quantity of lucky mag giveaways i’ve entered, baffles the mind and defies any odds i can come up with.

p. 252: hmm, 25% off at hayden-harnett (code luckybreaks4) and tulle (code luckybreaks2)…that’s not bad. off to browse now…

p. 258 (for you bay area girls): that laptop case is actually pretty cute, and again, a rare under-$100 find. and, wait, is that online sourcing i see?? surely not!

hmm. yeah, that’s about it. glad i’m only spending $12/year on this.

and yes, i realize this turned into more of an exercise in snarkiness than anything. but aren’t we all entitled to a little snarkiness here & there?

okay, all, SMC has a fashion dilemma of her own, and i need your help.

you should know by now that i’m obsessed with french sole’s rebel flats – they’re in my top 5 favorite shoes in the shoe closet, which is serious praise indeed.

so, when the new spring colors came out, my lovely friends over at barefoot tess (totally digging their new website, by the way) torturously let me know the minute they arrived. naturally, i ordered both. but even i realize that three pair of the same shoe is too many.

so, between the stone (which is actually this lovely dove grey in person) and the blue (a fabulous, electric color that is just perfect with jeans), what’s a girl to do?

the stone color is clearly the more flexible option – they’re sure to go with just about everything, making them the perfect travel shoe too. and i love the passing similarity to a certain oh-so-iconic ballet flat (yes, that photo is of a gross, fake version…it’s for illustrative purposes only, do not purchase!).

but the blue is just so pretty!! (can you hear the whine in my voice even through the internet?) they’re definitely more divine and striking…but shouldn’t utility be a major factor?

sigh…i need guidance, dear readers. WWYD?

and, in the category of “things we covet from afar” is this stunning pale-rose satchel by barbara bui. one of the ultimate under-the-radar designers, barbara bui is notorious in europe for her stunning, timeless and elegant pieces. this bag definitely qualifies.

i adore the color – this is probably the only shade of pink i’d dare attempt in a handbag. it’s the ultimate secret neutral – it would really be stunning with just about any neutral shade (black, grey, brown, camel, white), and perfect for the warmer months ahead.

the structure and quality of this bag are just so understated and elegant, it has that amazing ability to look expensive but unplaceable. in fact, the leather is so thick and luxurious, it reminds me of styles from a much pricier french design house.

at just over $1,800, this is definitely an investment piece, but a very worthy investment, if you ask me. i’ll be looking for any excuse to splurge on this beauty in the coming months.

thomas pink isn’t known for trendy, but classic is the name of the game today. if you’re in the market for The Perfect White Shirt, or something a little more fun, look no further than the annual sale happening at thomas pink right now. their timeless, impeccably tailored button-downs are marked down from about $200 to the $60-80 neighborhood, so it’s well worth your time to take a look.

i love this old-school rosette placket version, which would be so chic with a colored tank underneath, and a funky blazer or sweater on top.

and i have to admit that i think this black tuxedo version, subbing swarovski crystals for the normal pleating, is pretty fabulous too. with slim black pants and a lacy camisole underneath, this would be amazing as a cocktail dress substitute.

loads of classic options available as well, but shop quick! your work wardrobe will thank you.

i just want to say that not one, but both of these frightening apparitions appeared in my email in-box over the weekend. it’s enough to put a girl off her cappucino.

i have no idea what’s in the water but honestly, am i expected to wear this madness? i wasn’t that familiar with the 80%20 brand before, and now i know why. and really…michael kors, i expected more of you.

hard to believe, but i’m already getting reader questions about summer wedding attire. is it really that time already?

no matter – i have a fantastic solution to this annual dilemma. this darling dress by theory just screams spring to me. i love the ruched bodice, love the length, love the pockets – i would wear this beauty to every wedding, baby shower, and bar mitzvah between now and september.

the color is fantastic, flattering on pretty much any skin tone, and perfect for warm weather. the silhouette is forgiving enough to allow for that second piece of wedding cake. and the style is simple enough to allow for multiple wears without anyone pointing at you and screaming “hey, you wore that to nancy’s wedding last month!” after one too many trips to the open bar.

to restyle this piece and really make it your own, try adding a huge, chunky necklace in cobalt blue one day, and a dainty strand of pearls another. cardigans, blazers, sure…but i’d even consider layering a white button-down over it, and using the belt to tie the whole thing together (no pun intended). or, scrap the belt entirely, and substitute a gorgeous scarf.

that’s a lot of mileage to get out of a dress for $250. oh, and free two-day shipping (hurray for avoiding their notoriously slow-boat shipping) with code NMFAST.

if you do nothing else this month, if you buy no other fashion magazine, don’t miss the stunning (truly, stunning) mario testino photo shoot beginning on page 526 of the march issue of vogue (US edition).

my horrible, “picture of picture” versions are below…but really, these are just to get you to go check it out in person. please don’t consider them a substitute. i think it’s one of vogue’s most iconic spreads in years.