even more exciting than the emmy’s last night…the winner of the tuleste market necklace!

the winner is…entry #71, by janet, who simply said:

“love it!”

congrats to janet, who will look so chic in her gorgeous statement necklace. be sure to email me by tuesday morning (editor at shoppingsmycardio dot com) with your deets, or we’ll have to draw a new winner!

that gorgeous tuleste market necklace that’s up for grabs?  it retails for $150, and is one of my absolute favorites from ali’s picks. i’m dying to pair it with everything from a simple tee to a cocktail dress…it’s sure to add instant glam to any and all ensembles!thanks to all of you for entering, and for sharing the SMC love!  thanks to ali galgano owner of the fabulous jewelry shop, charm & chain.

now that fashion week is behind us (let us all heave a collective sigh!), i thought i’d share a few looks that caught my eye.  not an exhaustive study by any means…but there were some pieces worth pointing out.

to sum up:  flirty little dresses, florals, ruffles and pastels galore (especially lilac and all shades of yellow), nothing new there.  more black, white and tan than i’d expect for spring – am i the only one who wants color when the sun comes back in april?  in other news, the jumpsuit seems to have exited stage left (thank god), and hemlines are finally inching slowly back toward the knee.  those bold shoulders are more subdued this season, which means they’re on their way out (another fashion blessing).  and blazers still abound, though not nearly as much as they did for fall.

the bad news? i spotted biker shorts throughout, and bare midriffs at thakoon (his dresses, however, were stunning).  here’s hoping they aren’t here to stay.

all photos courtesy of style.com

the moment i win the lottery, stop one will be at the oscar de la renta boutique for a beautiful dress.  there is simply no one who does what oscar does.  the shades of bold lapis, orange and chartreuse running through his show were a welcome change from the pastels, and i love that my favorite shade of blue will be the star of the season!

we’ll still be raiding the closets of the men in our lives, but i like the look much better for spring.  consider grabbing an old pair of your dad’s pleated trousers (the baggier, the better), chopping them off at the knee (your drycleaner can easily hem) and folding over the waist – you’ll have the chicest shorts in town, not to mention the cheapest!  from left:  look 8, isaac mizrahi; look 5, 3.1 phillip lim.

keep mixing those patterns – the anna sui show was one of my favorites of the week (i highly suggest a full view here), and the bold, crazy pattern-mixing was definitely the highlight of her show.

neither here nor there, and i normally detest the shorts-suit, but anna sui’s version is utterly perfect.  it would even be perfect as separates (note the shorts on the model in the pic set above).  definitely splurge-worthy!

last spring, it was all about pairing your floral sundress with gladiator heels to create the girly biker look.  next spring, designers have done the dirty work for you, and the results are undeniably feminine silhouettes done in big, bold prints that will make even the girliest ruffle feel bad ass.  from left: look 16, diane von furstenberg; look 12, proenza schouler.

so, that’s my take.  if you’re after a more serious synopsis, i loved refinery 29′s take on the hot trends from the runway.  and if it’s eye candy you’re after, i think love made visible did an amazing job picking the best looks from the best shows.

happy weekend, everyone!  and don’t forget our fab contest this week – entries close sunday, so get those comments in!

editor’s note: don’t miss out on our fab giveaway this week!  enter to win a beautiful necklace by celeb favorite tuleste market, courtesy of charm & chain!

i know i’m going to reminded of this in january, when all i can do is complain about the endless winter.  but i am so, so ready for cooler temperatures!  i’m ready for my cardigans, my sweaters…and, most of all, my boots.  in past years, i’ve had a hard time with boots, but last fall, i finally learned to embrace and even love them (i blame my completely irresponsible splurge on the holy grail loeffler randall boots).  now, i can’t get enough.

this fall, over-the-knee styles are everywhere.  personally, i won’t be going anywhere near this trend…i think it’s just too young and too much for a boot novice like me.  but, i am loving a residual trend: the cuffed boot.  take a look through some of these lovelies, and pick your favorite for fall!

ash is doing the best versions of the tall folded boot i’ve seen this season.  i love that they add a little style and edge without relying (much) on zippers and buckles to do the job.  these manage to stay sophisticated, chic and utterly unlike anything else in my closet.  plus, how can you be expected to resist blue suede?  from left: time long cuff boot in stone grey, $435; olivia tall boot in blue suede, $300; eden bellbottom boot in tmoro suede, $300.

lately, i’ve realized i’m not a person that loves neutrals, at least in the traditional sense.  i’ll almost never go for black or brown when it comes to classics.  instead, i’m drawn to greys, nudes (not khaki, it should be noted), and even navy blues to carry my brighter shades with style.  these neutral folded boots will stand out in a sea of black, but still manage to be the most versatile thing in your closet.  from left: elizabeth and james steel boot, $395; via spiga ‘suri’ boot, $225 (also amazing in plum); belle by sigerson cuffed shoe-boot, $295.

so, i’m curious…what boots are you craving for fall?

i’ve been working on this goodie for a while, and am so, so, SO excited to finally share this with you guys!  welcome to our big fall fashion giveaway!  i wanted to offer up something truly extraordinary, something the winner could use as a statement piece all season to really amp up their fall wardrobe.  i think we’ve done it!

my jewelry lust is well documented – i think you’ll all attest to that.  but the truth is that i’m obsessed with good reason – in fashion, especially this year, the jewels really do make the outfit!  for fall, the trends in gems are big, strong, and sometimes hard to navigate.  so, i turned to the experts!

ali galgano owns one of my all-time favorite jewelry shops, charm & chain.  this site is so perfectly curated, it takes virtually all of the guesswork out of my jewelry choices.  she carries everything from fallon and tuleste market to house of harlow and alexis bittar, so there are loads of both splurges and steals – always a good thing.  plus, she’s just the sweetest person ever…which always makes me want to spend more money!

with fall coming, i asked ali to share her favorite jewelry trends for the season.  i also asked if we could spread a little love and give one of her picks away to a shoppingsmycardio reader.  yep, always thinking of you guys!  so, i’m excited to tell you that that gorgeous tuleste market necklace you see above is up for grabs! (details at the end of this post!!)

now, without further ado, ali’s picks:

“The Bigger, the Better”: necklaces and earrings keep getting bigger and bigger, as people are pushing the limits of what’s wearable.  any one of these pieces makes a serious statement! (from left: fringe necklace by lulu frost, $375; hammered squares necklace by tuleste market, $170; leather sunburst ring by house of harlow, $45)

“American West”: we’ve seen a lot of designers turn to the american west for inspiration this season. fringe, turquoise, raw stones–a lot of the new jewelry we’re seeing reminds us of the gold rush.  (from left: bronze seedbead necklace by lee angel, $450; turquoise seedbead necklace by lee angel, $213; dina pyrite earrings by gemma redux, $245; red rock necklace by lizzie fortunato, $557)

“Neon Pop”: it seems this season that we’ve completely flashed back to the 80s, with big shoulders, sequins, etc on the runway, along with as much neon as possible. we love the futuristic, tough feel the neon pieces have this year—a lot of the florescent pieces we’re seeing this year are paired with gunmetal hardware. (from left: fallon necklace by marlaina stone, $1500; innocence earrings by erickson beamon, $227; siena necklace by dannijo, $238)

“Chains, Chains, Chains”: from what we’ve seen designers showing this season, the more chains you can cram on your neck and layer with shorter pieces, the more stylish you’ll be. best of all, chain looks can range from punk rock to deliciously girly.  (from left: long crystal and cross necklace by fallon, $250; layered ball and chain necklace by tuleste market, $150 (and our giveaway item!); jac necklace by gemma redux, $369)

i don’t know about you, but i’m crazy excited to add all of these hot fall trends to my wardrobe.  the great thing about most of these pieces is that a little goes a long way.  add a fringed necklace to a tee, mini and boots, and you’ve got a perfect american west look.  pair that tee with distressed jeans and flats, add a little neon pop, and presto, you’re back in the ’80s!

so, about that giveaway! that gorgeous tuleste market necklace that’s up for grabs?  it retails for $150, and is one of my absolute favorites from ali’s picks. i’m dying to pair it with everything from a simple tee to a cocktail dress…it’s sure to add instant glam to any and all ensembles! to win, just leave a comment at the end of this post (as always, if you share on facebook, twitter or any other internet-y place, leave a second comment telling me where you shared to score a bonus entry)!  since this prize is so amazing, we’ll run this contest through sunday night, and announce the winner on monday (9/21). you’ll have to email me within 24 hours to claim your prize, or we’ll find someone else to give it to, so make sure you check back monday!

thanks so much to charm & chain for offering up this truly fabulous prize.  now get those entries in!

makeup brushes are one of those nuisance purchases in my book.  i know i need them, they can be pretty pricey, and they’re not exactly exciting to buy.  really, who gets worked up about a new blush brush?

but when i spotted these bright new color-dipped versions at sephora – well, i actually got pretty excited about makeup brushes!  these work wonderfully well, and the colors (in addition to bringing a little brightness to my bland bathroom counter) help me spot the brush i want in a snap.  hey, it’s the little things. plus, these are silky soft, well-shaped, and so far, the shedding has been minimal.  since that’s about all i’m looking for in a makeup brush, these are perfect!

the only drawback (at least for me) is the double-sided feature.  super handy for application, it’s true…but i typically keep my brushes in a vase on the counter, and i can’t really do that now without risking ruining the bristles.  the way i see it, the only solution is a new brush case.

pricing runs from $18-35 per brush…if you’re due for new brushes (and, let’s be honest…i’m guessing we all are), these are a great choice.

i am so, so in love with all things liberty.  for those who aren’t familiar, liberty of london is an amazing, utterly unique department store in london that’s been made famous by its iconic fabric prints, used by designers all over the world.  each one is timeless, gorgeous, and always stylish.

i’ve been meaning to share this latest incarnation of liberty goodness for a while – a collection called “prints charming,” in which they’re retooled some of their most gorgeous and classic prints into household goods and fashion accessories.  so lovely!  literally every piece on that page would be extremely welcome in my house (ahem…you know, if anyone from london is looking to send me a gift for my birthday this week!).

i think my favorite liberty collection is their scarf line…they’re just extraordinarily gorgeous (and sadly, priced accordingly…but a girl can dream!).  i still can’t believe i didn’t splurge on one the last time i traveled to london.

and, just when i thought i couldn’t love liberty prints any more than i do, they just launched a collaboration with hermes, and the resulting collection of cotton scarves is just divine!

each one starts with liberty’s classic cotton fabrics, and is screen-printed with hermes’ classic ex libris pattern.  honestly, i’m not sure if i’d wear them or frame them.  alas…at $130-230 each (with current exchange rates), this is probably not a dilemma i’ll face in real life, but it’s fun to dream.  check out a lovely pic of the new hermes/liberty display right here.

here’s hoping i’ve converted at least a few new liberty fans with all of this lovely eye candy!

UPDATE:  looks like you guys had quick trigger fingers today…this one’s now sold out at shopbop!  but never fear, i’ve tracked it down at piperlime…they don’t have the black, but they do have a gorgeous grey that i love just as much.

as fall draws near (hurray!), it’s finally time for me to start lusting after handbags made of lush, substantial leathers again.  after a summer full of cotton totes, i can hardly wait.

normally, the classic black bag bores me to tears…in fact, i almost never carry one.  but i’m finding myself head over heels for this slouchy chic version from twelfth st. by cynthia vincent.  it has the perfect styling of a classic tote, and the cutouts at the center give it an ideal shoulder drop (it will even work over those winter coats) that will still look stylish when hand-carried, not sloppy like most totes with a longer handle drop.  i can see it looking just as hot with a business suit as with a casual sweater-and-jeans ensemble…and, for me, that’s what makes a bag splurge-worthy.

fortunately, very minimal splurging required for this beautiful bag.  while the shape and the way the tote hangs remind me of givenchy, the price tag looks nothing like it.  $325 is a handbag bargain by most standards, but especially in my closet.

the only drawback is the lining, which i think is a little too kooky and wild for a bag with such style.  but for a bag this hip at a price this good, i’m willing to compromise.  nab it at shopbop before it makes an “editor’s pick” list somewhere and promptly sells out.

dear readers…yesterday was what i call “a day.”  one of those days when all you want to do is crawl back into bed (not least because the one bright, shining spot in the pile of crap that was thursday was my cozy new john robshaw quilt), hide under the covers, and hope a bomb doesn’t hit.

in my case, when i’m having one of those days, i crave travel – seeing new things, shopping new shops, eating at new restaurants…a new perspective (or just getting the hell out of dodge).  since i haven’t had even a glimmer of a summer vacation this year, and this labor day weekend promises more of the same, i thought i’d put together a post for those of you who are wishing you’d had a little exotic summer travel.  and so, a few pictures from some of my very favorite virtual vacation books – the tomes i turn to when travel is nowhere to be found, but i’m desperate to get away.

if you’re dreaming of an ultra-luxe tropical respite – maybe some exotic, exclusive hotel in the middle of the ocean – you’ll want to pick up ultimate tropical (from rizzoli), stat.  i want to visit every.single.five.star.resort in this beautiful book, sit in front of every.single.infinity.pool, and sleep in every.single.canopied.bed.  come on, aren’t you dying to wake up on that bed?  surely not as good as the real thing, but considerably cheaper (and easier to come by).

the book i desperately needed yesterday was still (from chronicle), a collection of photos by debra bloomfield. aptly named, it’s the most calming book i’ve ever owned – just page after page of beautiful ocean and sky.  the layout is such that you get one photo per page, cropped square…the whole thing is just so serene.  i had the hardest time choosing which photo to share…click here for a few more, or just buy the book.

of course, a virtual vacation doesn’t have to be all zen.  it can be food and shopping and all manner of touristy goodness.  for that, my guilty pleasure of choice is the one hundred and one series (from rizzoli).  for me, i’m going straight to italy – no surprise shops and crafts is my favorite - and instantly transport myself to a cafe somewhere in florence, sipping chianti and being utterly free of stress.  or maybe a tiny little shop where i can buy handmade leather gloves, in fuchsia ostrich skin!  ahem…sorry, got a little distracted there.

so, readers, what will you be doing with this last weekend of summer?  i hope you have barbecues, relaxation…and maybe a little travel in your future.

a little admin note: i’ll be taking it easy next week. i have a birthday coming up (hurray!), family coming into town to celebrate (hi, mom!), and just looking forward to some down time.  don’t worry too much…i have a few goodies lined up to keep you entertained.  and of course, there’s always my new twitter addiction, which i’m sure i’ll be indulging.

have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

in honor of the amazing sale on gorjana jewelry going on today at gilt fuse, i had to share my latest gorjana find!

when i came across these earrings in their fall lookbook, i was absolutely sure they were part of the designer’s fine jewelry collection, and i called my hubs over to show him the dream, and tell him that someday, when we’re wealthy, he could buy me these to accrue many brownie points.  i love the varying sized circles (reminds me of a certain bubble design from my favorite jeweler of blue-box fame), and the matte silver just makes the shine of the diamonds so much stronger.  (they’re also lovely in gold – it’s a deep, saturated gold that gives these extra warmth.)

leave it to me to assume.  those “diamonds” are CZ, which normally turns me off.  but these are incredibly high-quality, and honestly, even my overly-picky eye couldn’t complain.  the result?  these beautiful, classic hoops are $95, for a style you’ll own and wear forever!  i’ve hardly taken mine off since the day they arrived (after being that pleasantly surprised about the price, how could i not order them?).  if you’re missing those splurges of yore, this is a perfect chance to get your fix!

(of course, if you’d rather check out the sale goodies at gilt fuse, grab an invite right here!)

a reader turned me on to le labo perfumes a few months ago (thanks, j!), raving about how fabulous the fragrances were, and insisting i had to try them.  i was lucky enough to get in touch with the perfumers in france, and after several chats about the various options, they sent me a beautiful little box of fragrances to try out.  quite honestly, i’ve never been so utterly bowled over by a perfumer, and i couldn’t wait to share my discovery!

i’ve been spraying le labo’s scents all morning to write this post, and dear readers, my house smells a-ma-zing!  the thing i love about le labo is their ability to blend fragrances to really enhance the essence of a single scent without overpowering it or creating just a single-note fragrance.  their scents are complex, but light and incredibly easy to wear – i have a hard time committing to some scents for an entire day, but i still find myself surreptitiously sniffing my wrists on my way to bed when i wear le labo.

my hands-down favorite from the line is their anis 24 fragrance. it’s technically only available as a home scent, but they were kind enough to make me a test sample that’s wearable (how amazing is that?!).  i love it so much that i have to be cautious when i wear it, because i’m terrified i’m going to run out!

for die-hard fans of vetiver (like me), bergamote 22 is a perfect specimen, blended with grapefruit and just a touch of amber.  the results are light, maybe a bit sweet, and so easy to wear.  if you’re a floral person, you’ll undoubtedly fall for fleur d’oranger 27 – a honeyed floral that smells exactly like the orange trees i remember from california.  and if it’s a sweeter scent you’re after, i’d suggest calone 17, another home fragrance.  they say it smells like the sea…i’d say maybe popsicles on the beach:  cool, sweet and irresistible.

if you happen to be near a store, i’m jealous.  if not, le labo will create a custom set of scents for you as well!  choose their discovery set, and you’ll get your choice of three 5ml perfumes custom packaged and personalized just for you (they even put your name on the box…it’s very exciting)!  for $52, it’s a great way to test a few of their fragrances with less commitment…and trust me, you’ll be glad you have a few to choose from!

otherwise, nab their scents on le labo’s website or from the happiest place on earth (aka barneys).

(shopper’s note: do make sure you page down on le labo’s site to get to the buying options for each fragrance.  it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure that out…)