i’m so very glad to see that all of that gorgeous (but severe) pleating from last fall has transformed into piles of soft draping and grecian-inspired looks this year.  besides looking sophisticated, soft and effortless, all of those flowing pieces translate to some seriously perfect camouflage just where you’d most want it.

even though i’m dreaming of the positively perfect version from derek lam’s fall collection, shopbop has very lovely (and much more budget-friendly) options, so i thought we’d indulge in a little tour.

i don’t do the mini-dress as a rule, but these are so lovely, i might have to make an exception.    what i love about these dresses (besides all of that lovely drape) is the fact that showing a little leg really is all you’re doing.  dresses that are cut low on the bodice and high on the hem can end up looking cheap, but both of these are subtle enough to stay sophisticated.  i’m definitely least bothered by the hem of the berry-hued version, which (thoughtfully) hits at the slimmest part of your thigh – i could see the hem on that lovely green gown being a challenge.  (left, $220 by rachel pally; right, $242 by alice + olivia.)

since my life is less packed with cocktail parties and late-night outings than you’d think (ha!), these lovely grecian tees are far more likely to make my fall must-have list.  kain’s version (left, $93) is about as perfect as i could hope for – i even love the color.  but i’m always a bit skeptical of the one-size-fits-all tee.  the style from monrow (right, $88) is one i think i’d have to see in person…i can’t quite decide if all of that draping on the front is flattering or maybe a tiny bit sloppy (particularly in the boysenberry shade i’d be most likely to fall for).  i’m guessing it’s all in the fit, as usual, and i do think this one has serious potential.

just remember, the trick with drapes is a goldilocks kind of thing.  too few, and the look is messy, not draped.  too many, and that camouflage turns into serious extra baggage.  and definitely keep those folds from piling up in the tummy area!  you want the look to be light, flowing and (seemingly) effortless…and, naturally, slimming.

so, will you be indulging in a little grecian inspiration this fall?

it really doesn’t take much for me to feel like i’m being “edgy.”  a bit of oxidation on a silver ring, maybe tying a scarf in a new, hip way i’ve spied over at who what wear.  the reality is that, for as much as i appreciate the edge in others (and oh, i do!) i veer so much to the preppy most of the time, it can be annoyingly predictable.  so, today’s random friday finds are my way of adding just the tiniest dash of elizabeth and james to my normal j.crew routine.

snake rings, spike rings, skull rings…i just refuse to even try to pull off the punk thing.  but this alligator is another matter entirely.  i love this alligator!  so tongue-in-cheek, with maybe the tiniest dash of edge.  perfect for a hopeless preppy like me!  by gara danielle for $126.

here’s a sweet little bargain for you – one of my favorite graphic printers, lotta jansdotter, has marked down darn near everything on her beautiful site, including this cute (ahem, edgy) little bag, which you can score for just $12.  use it as a clutch all summer, and when winter comes, it’s the perfect thing to organize all the bits and bobs that wind up rolling around in the bottom of your bag.  (note: it also comes in pink floral, but by choosing the abstract grey pattern, i think i’ve chosen the edgier option here.)

don’t hit me when we talk about hoop earrings again next week (you’re going to die over how fabulous they are!)…but in the meantime, the lovely oh joy introduced me to these brass pyramid hoops from urban outfitters.  for $7, how can i be expected to resist at least sharing them with you?  and again, just a dash of edge…but not too much.  i think i could even rock these with a cardigan!

happy friday, everyone!

i was raving to the hubs this weekend about how much i love kate somerville’s exfoliKate intensive exfoliating treatment, how it’s my new favorite facial product, how i can’t believe how much better it is than other masks i’ve tried.  dear hubs, in turn (most likely in an effort to get me to stop waxing poetic about beauty products) asked if i’d blogged it.  and i stopped, mid-sentence (just as he’d hoped)…because i couldn’t believe i hadn’t shared this one with you all!

so.  exfoliKate!  it’s basically a super exfoliator/mask that only takes 30 seconds to use.  in addition to regular exfoliating beads, it uses fruit enzymes and other goodies to really and thoroughly scrub every bit of dead, tired skin from your face, and leave you glowy and gorgeous.  of all of the facial masks i’ve tested, this is the one that stays in constant weekly rotation at my house, because i see such a huge difference every single time i use it.

not cheap – $85 for the smaller size (which should comfortably get you 10-15 applications).  but it’s supposed to be “almost” as good as a facial with kate herself.  i haven’t had the pleasure, but i would definitely say it’s “almost” as good as some of the best facials i’ve had.  when you look at it that way, it’s practically a bargain!

one of my favorite bloggers of all things pretty, rachel of heart of light, has opened an etsy shop to share some of her most popular DIY projects, and the results are so lovely, i just had to share.

i am so wishing i were a headband person right now, as that beautiful cobalt rosebud version is practically perfect in every way (i am, as we know, obsessed with all things cobalt).

and i, for one, can’t wait to throw a dinner party and set the table with those darling, hand-embroidered napkins.  since i know i’ll never get around to making them myself, i think i have to splurge on a set.

check out all of the goodies in rachel’s beautiful new shop, but hurry…she has quite a few fans, and we’ve been waiting with bated breath for her to save us from having to craft her gorgeous creations ourselves.

i’ve actually never been the biggest fan of scott schuman’s incredibly popular blog, the sartorialist.  me, i like a little more text in my daily reads (shocking, i know).  and if i’m honest, i’m often bored by the ‘street looks’ thing.  especially in this case, there just seemed to be too many looks i couldn’t wrap my mind around, or just plain hated.  which then made me feel fashion-challenged and inferior, and really, i’m not looking to get a complex from a blog.

the point (yes, there is one) is that i actually love his new book.  love it.  picked it up, leafed through every single one of its 512 pages, and have revisited it several times.  it’s a pared down version of the best and most interesting looks from his site – along with a little bit of text to explain just a few of the looks (true to form, schuman’s words are few, but well-placed).

after going through the book, i realized two things.  first, i shouldn’t have been letting his blog make me feel bad (duh).  every look is there because it’s unique and striking, not necessarily perfect (and definitely not perfect for me).  and second, i know i’m going to be turning to this book on a regular basis…in fact, i even got out my mini post-it flags to mark some of my favorites.  it’s a great place to look for ideas to update looks you’re already wearing, and to be reminded of old rules.  pairing a floral dress with a bright belt and black ankle boot is great.  but pale gold flats and a bicycle work equally well.  mixing patterns?  be bold!  tights can be transformative.  classic is always, always in style.  and, oh yes, never forget the potential of a rolled sleeve or pant cuff.

i’m probably still a little too fashion-challenged and inferior for that last one, but you never know…schuman may convince me yet!

i haven’t done a really good pre-release stalking of a target collection in ages, so i’m thrilled to see from the preview pics that their latest collaboration with jewelry designer anna sheffield (of bing bang jewelry) is definitely worthy of at least a little stalk-age.

all photos courtesy of fabsugar

sadly, like so many of the target collabs, i think the designer’s signature style is so pared down in this collection that you’d never know who created the looks, which is unfortunate.  but, even without bing bang‘s signature punk appeal, these pieces are a great, cheap way to add some serious style to your look.

it’s no surprise to see a bevy of multi-chain necklaces in the collection.  they show no signs of losing their popularity this fall, and they’re a great way to boost the cool quotient of an otherwise bland ensemble.  but i’m actually after the earrings in this collection.

i love those long-but-light dangling chains, and the super-sparkly studs, which i’m hoping are just as lovely in person.  and there are some bird earrings that, though i’m a little over the whole bird thing, have enough of a hip/love tattoo vibe that i just might need those as well.

best of all, prices are supposed to stick under $80, and i’m betting the bulk of the line will sit squarely in the $30-50 range.  not the biggest bargain in town, but when you consider her regular line will run you about 10x that, it looks better all the time.

check out more pics from the line over at fabsugar, and save me a spot in line when they debut on august 30.

wow.  would you look at the amazing-ness that is this necklace?

it’s the ultimate in over-the-top:  bold and huge, but the shapes are so soft and organic, they balance the piece perfectly.  i want to wear it with a black t-shirt or turtleneck.  i want to wear it with a strapless dress.  i want to wear it under a button-down blouse.  i want to wear it a thousand different ways…it makes me that happy!  and it’s only $107.  on etsy, of all places, by star of the east.  i’m telling you, etsy just gets more amazing and more full of talent every. single. day.

okay, before you fall in love, don’t fall far….they’re by pierre hardy, and they’re $1400, so this is a look-but-don’t-touch post.  but i still had to share…i mean, look at them!

now, i have absolutely nowhere to wear these – after all, they take over-the-top to a whole new level.  but oh, i wish i did so that i could properly covet them.  as of now, they’re just making me covet the shoe and the life i’d have to have to own them (hmm, can you ever really own a shoe that lovely, or are you just borrowing it from the world?  what, too far?).

so, here’s what i’m wondering:  what amazing fantasy event would you want to attend in order to wear these amazing shoes?  for me, i’m thinking maybe the annual costume institute gala at the met.  it’s hosted by anna wintour, and i just know she’d stop me and demand that i remove my shoes and give them to her immediately.

what about you?

i recently got to play around with bobbi brown’s new color collection for fall.  dubbed “ivy league,” the entire line is done in shades of green.  the goal is collegiate, and there’s definitely a bit of a dark, “gossip girl” effect when used as a whole, but separate them out, and i actually quite like the green!

i can tell you that if i’d inherited my mother’s perfect, olive, i’ve-never-been-sunburned-in-my-life skin (sigh…if only!), you wouldn’t be able to pry a single piece of this collection out of my hands.  the eye shadows in paticular would be amazing on someone with more yellow than pink to their skin (especially the golden leaf shimmer shadow, a gorgeous shade of olive!).  i know makeup colors can be trickier for those with yellow undertones – ladies, this is your collection!

the dark green eyeliner and creamy eye pencil had me a little suspect…i’m pretty boring in the eyeliner department, and generally stick to brown (black just seems over the top on me).  but, in the interest of science, i tested both the creamy eye pencil in hunter and the long-wear gel eyeliner in forest shimmer. for some reason, i always have an easier time with those pots of gel eyeliner…i can never get pencils to apply properly.  but i actually found the bobbi brown pencil worked better than others i’ve tried – it has a great, creamy texture and the built-in smudger helps even things out.  and the green was a fun (and surprisingly subtle) change from brown, without being as severe as black – i definitely feel more “made up” than normal when i wear it, but in a good way.

my absolute favorite thing in the line are their lip crayons, which are (finally!) a permanent part of their line.  built like a jumbo lip pencil, these go on as smooth as a lipstick, but a bit more sheer, and much easier to control.  plus, as always, no one does lip colors as well as bobbi brown, so there are six flawless shades to love.

so, the moral of the story?  the lip crayon is spot-on perfect, whoever you are.  and the green eyeliner is a blast if you’re looking to shake things up a bit.  but if you’re one of those women who just can’t wear pink, trust me – the new eye colors are a must for you!  grab them at bobbi brown’s website…but hurry, these limited edition collections can sell out ridiculously fast.

i admit to a bit of skepticism about these lovelies these because of the brand, which i associate more with beachy foot attire than thai silk pumps.  but that skepticism aside, these are one of the cutest “cheap thrill” shoes i’ve seen in a while.

i love the raw/duponi texturing on the silk, and that pleated knot on the vamp is a great way to embrace one of fall’s hot trends, not to mention embracing a very “sexy secretary” sort of look.  plus, i’m a sucker for a purple shoe…it’s this oddly unexpected neutral when it comes to footwear, and seems to match nearly everything.  if you’re looking for an inexpensive shoe, i cannot overstate my preference for purchasing them in a material other than leather.  it will either be gross, or it will be faux…and with very few exceptions, neither is good.

i especially love that they are $59.  if you can handle the 4″ heel height (i, much to my recurring chagrin, cannot), i’d call these perfect, and click “buy now“!