i’m in the process of decorating an entire house (in fact, stay tuned for a design week coming up soon!). let me tell you – it’s not as fun as it sounds. there are so many choices out there, and i find something new i want every single day. i think decorating doesn’t mesh with someone who spends her days shopping online, as you really need to have made a final decision when you order a $3,000 custom couch.

so, i’m reveling in the indecision and overbuying that comes with the territory in the “home accessories” world. items like these stunning (and, might i add, environmentally sound) kitchen accessories by ekobo, rock my design world without stripping my wallet.

the gorgeous bright lacquers make these the perfect showstopper for any dining table, but also make them incredibly functional. i love the teardrop-shaped “tempo” platter ($48), which is a perfect design for passing appetizers – not enough platters have edging, to save your perfect mini-quiches from the dreaded plate slide. or the gorgeous “sumo” bowl ($125), that has a fabulous, modern shape, but retains those thoughtful details, like the highly useful handles.

check out the entire line at ekobo’s website, but hit up the conran shop to buy a few selected items. you might even be able to order in your favorite – it’s always worth asking!

the hubs surprised me with tickets to the movie tonight…now that’s love! so, in honor of carrie and the gang, here’s a worthy friday splurge for you!

i know those dior extreme gladiators have been absolutely everywhere lately, because of their notable appearance in the movie. but, well, as O would say…”me no likey” (and if you got that, you should definitely challenge your friends to a game of SATC trivia). i much prefer these gorgeous sandals from master manolo’s spring runway collection. truly the ultimate “strappy sandal,” they have that gladiator vibe, but aren’t going to scream last season by the time the movie makes it to DVD.

if you’re looking for a real SATC-worthy splurge, i highly recommend these bordeaux beauties…if you have one of those lifestyles in which you don’t actually have to walk anywhere, you’ll look absolutely stunning just standing still.

(PS…just a little tip from me to you: if you have any interest in seeing the movie, i’d do it this weekend…much as i despise crowds (and opening weekend, for that matter), the internet is going to positively ruin the movie by monday. so, see it before it’s picked apart, overanalyzed and “spoiler alert”-ed to death.)

i don’t normally go for the menswear-style watches…at least not for myself. love them on others, but i always feel the styling is off for me. but i ran into this max bill version over at velocity art and design, and it was love at first sight. the size is right for that menswear look, but the styling is so understated that it could easily be interpreted as feminine. plus, it has just the right touch of antique detailing – it looks exactly like something you picked up from your grandfather’s dresser. i do so love to see classic pieces done exactly right, and this is a perfect example.

$580 at velocity, but lucky magazine was kind enough to score a 25% off coupon, sitewide (which, i’ll be honest, i’m going a little crazy with). use code luckybreaks11 at checkout.

every single one of these is better than the last. i don’t think i can resist that toilet paper picture on the right for a bathroom i’m decorating. hard to read from here, but the scribble at the top says “always check“. fitting that the site is called advice to sink in slowly.

some are funny, some are sweet, and some are just plain true. all are $10 – now that’s taking “affordable art” to a whole new level!

agh…my wallet is positively groaning. neiman, saks, bergdorf, nordstrom – everyone has started their spring sales, and my restraint is wearing thin. but i was doing pretty well until shopbop’s designer sale started.

now, those gorgeous anya hindmarch silver woven d’orsay pumps (wow, that’s a long description for a pair of shoes) i wanted a month ago have made their way from a worthy splurge down to a very responsible buy. same goes for that stunning chocolate brown woven elrod. and her stunningly beautiful grey studded shoulder bag.

and these fantastic gatsby pants by peter som do, in fact, remind me of an afternoon soiree circa f. scott fitzgerald. they were just featured in the june vogue, so it’s a wonder they’ve already hit the sale rack. marked down to just under $500, they’re still a splurge, but if you have the bod to carry off the volume (read: long and lean), they’re a classic style that is well worth your next bonus. while you’re at it, check out som’s luscious take on the classic cardigan – long, lean and oh-so-stylish, it would definitely be a worthy addition to your wardrobe.

loads of other unmissable options to peruse, so head over and get your shop on!

this necklace by alexis bittar would be a fantastic addition to just about any jewelry box. i’m hard-pressed to think of any work wardrobe that wouldn’t be beautifully accented by this piece. it would work with nearly any neckline, and every ensemble from a suit to a gorgeous wrap dress.

the colors are perfect – a great mix of neutral tones, with just enough color to stand out. best of all, it’s a pretty remarkable deal, especially considering that it’s sold by saks. pick it up for $185, or check out my other favorite, another steal under $200. both are just dripping with style and attention to detail. and while you’re at it, check out the rest of alexis bittar’s designs, particularly her lucite pieces – they’re all gorgeous, unique, and impossibly stylish.

dear readers, today i’d like to introduce one of the true stylemakers: bria of le train bleu. her store (both the online site and the “real” version, located in portland, oregon) is positively notorious in the world of fashion for epitomizing that rare talent of mixing the best of upcoming trends with timeless, unique pieces. any true fashion addict has bria’s gorgeous finds for le train bleu at the forefront of her fashion radar. bria was kind enough to offer to guide us through some of her favorite styles, trends, and advice, and i’m thrilled to share it with you.

shoppingsmycardio: i have to start by gushing a little – i just love le train bleu. you do such a great job of picking really wearable pieces that are still so unique, and i love that you manage to mix in vintage and a few key home accessories as well, without making the store feel disorganized at all. how did you come up with the concept for the store? 

le train bleu: Ah, thanks – that totally makes my day. The homewares, apothecary, and vintage selections are fairly new and just stages in a long evolution. It’s a little known fact but Le Train Bleu actually started as an activewear store, albeit a very eclectic and eccentric one. I started out selling activewear as fashion. We had a lot of dancewear – high-fashion legwarmers (there was a terrific company called Dosty that we couldn’t keep in stock), cool dancewear imported from a company in Italy called Dimensione Danza. You can see a vestige of these roots on the site now if you look closely: we still sell leotards!

SMC: you have a knack for finding designs (and designers, for that matter) that really are “up and coming” – your shoppers get the high fashion look without necessarily the high fashion price tag. how do you decide what pieces and designers to stock?

LTB: It’s very instinctual—I buy whatever makes my heart race. I’ve gotten smarter about it though as I’ve gone along. I do make a concerted effort to have a range of prices. There are some surprises in regards to price though: my core customer is not very hampered by price and it’s not because they’re rolling in dough. It’s a very small niche market of people who are hard-core fashion collectors. They are the trendsetters and will scrimp and save and blow half their paycheck on a pair of high-waist jeans from Australia, because they just have to have them. This means that I can just as easily sell a $600 dress as a $60 pair of boots. It just has to be the right dress. The right boots too, for that matter.

SMC: tell me what trends you’re most excited about for fall ’08.

LTB: Midi hemlengths! I am shocked by how hard it is to find a skirt or dress that falls anywhere below the knee right now but for Fall we’ll have some more options: I’m very excited by the Tibi collection. And the color red—I can’t get enough.

SMC: what trends from last year are you counting on to stick around, and which pieces should we send to goodwill?

LTB: I guess I think more in terms of moods and stories than trends. I would be heartbroken to know that my customers were casting off things they had purchased one season earlier from Le Train Bleu—that runs totally contrary to what I feel about clothes. For me, clothes become dear friends and we might have periods in our lives where we fall in and out of each other’s lives (I do have some things in boxes that I’m not wearing right now, but I know in a year or two they’ll be back in my closet).

SMC: if a woman wanted to choose one special piece to update her wardrobe right now, what would you point her toward?

LTB: A trench coat is timeless and ageless and there’s one for everyone. I think a little structured tailoring is always cool and flattering.

SMC: what are your 3 favorite pieces in store right now?

LTB: On my shopping list right now would be the Speak Easy candle (vapors of gin, pipe tobacco and wood), The Vera Blouse from the Australian line Fleur Wood (very me – a slightly 1970s style via the 1940s in an amazing print and color), and the Bianca Dress from Heidi Merrick (her dresses are so well tailored).

SMC: what is your favorite piece of clothing (or accessory) that you’re wearing today?

LTB: Well, it’s morning and I’m still at home in my ritual of answering emails and drinking my coffee. I’m wearing my beloved cotton Thai fisherman’s trousers.

SMC: tell us about your favorite, never-fail outfit.

LTB: A wrap-around skirt, a very slim cut printed blouse (I love the 70s cut again, lean through the torso and cut high in the armhole) and a pair of heeled boots. If it’s cold, a really tailored great wool coat.

SMC: what one style secret do you wish you could teach every woman out there?

LTB: Relish the choices we have and when the marketplace offers up a style that is perfectly you, stock up. I haven’t worn a babydoll dress or a pair of skinny jeans in my life because they don’t suit me at all but I have been taking full advantage of the high-waist styles that have been offered in the last few years, because that style works well for my body type and my personal style, being a lover of the ’70s silhouette.

bria, thank you so much! i know you’ve given me loads of new ideas for my wardrobe, and can’t tell you how much i appreciate your taking the time to share your advice with all of us!

oh, and for those who are now lusting after everything on the le train bleu website, you might recall from my last le train bleu post that they currently have a lucky mag discount code for 25% off, good through june 1. use code luckybreaks1 at checkout!

i admit – i wasn’t in love with these loeffler randall sandals at first. but i recently saw them in person, and dear readers, they are fa-bu-lous. truly. that rose gold color is just the right blend of spark and sophistication. and the styling gives a deferential nod to the current gladiator trend, but these will be wearable long after those roman sandals have gone the way of caesar.

score them from our dear friends over at barefoot tess for 40% off their retail of $395, taking them down to less than $250 – just use code 40OFF. but this deal is only good through monday, so move fast!

(ps…if the loefflers aren’t singing your song, it’s also worth a look at their french sole selection…they’re all 40% off too, with that same 40OFF code!)

i got an email from the lovely kate boutique yesterday, showcasing the newest brand into their fantastic boutique: rozae nichols. nicols is an LA native, but her pieces have such a worldly, ethnic vibe – i love the drape, the unique cuts and styling, and the fabrics, which might just be the best part of her collections.

this gorgeous dress ($488) is a perfect example – the cut is fantastic, and the styling is inherently flattering for just about every shape. but that fabric and sash really steal the show.

this yellow halter dress ($518) is the perfect summer addition. the styling is fantastic – i think halter dresses are tough to get right, but nichols has nailed it. the details are effortless (literally – the belt and gorgeous wooden button mean no accessorizing necessary). and that ikat-inspired fabric is incredibly of-the-moment, yet the rest of the dress doesn’t scream trendy.

the dresses are perfection – but i even love her basics. take this jersey tank ($250), for example. proof that names can be deceiving – i would have no trouble wearing this simple “tank” to a dinner party, but it makes a perfect weekday work option, and a perfect denim companion as well.

ditto for this beautiful, seemingly classic black sweater. but take a closer look at those details – the neck tie makes this piece instantly sophisticated and effortlessly styled, and the chic neckline and contrast trim keep this piece unique, and well worth its $160 sale price (see that? you knew i’d have a sale piece in there somewhere…).

check out the full rozae nichols lines at kate boutique or over at shopjake – i’ve definitely found a new designer to love. hope i’m not the only one!

i know, i know….a lot of sale posts this week. but the shopjake sale is one of the best, and i’d never forgive myself for failing to share.

the deal is this: 40% off just about everything from spring. and i’m not talking about just the stuff that didn’t sell. they’ve marked down darn near everything on the site! including that stunning barbara bui handbag i’ve been wanting for months…now no longer relegated to the “if only” pile.

or that gorgeous rebecca minkoff steady bag, which isn’t on sale anywhere, down to $405 for my favorite stone/tangerine color combo.

i’m really struggling to resist this beautiful missoni wrap dress, down to $410 – my fave is this lovely aqua color, above. or, for a more practical option, this riser goodwyn sheath dress is down from $1100 to $295 (i know!), and it’s a classic you’ll keep for decades.

coats…well, there’s the 3.1 philip lim red trench, down to $375. and there’s the ultra-ladylike hanii y jacket, down to $385…

you get the idea. shopjake is just about the only retailer i know that does a sale this well…let’s all get out our credit cards and show our gratitude, shall we?