oh my…i didn’t even know how much i loved allsaints until i heard they’d just started selling in the US.

generally, i try to avert my eyes when it comes to things across the pond that i simply can’t have (anything in the toast catalog, for example).  but now that allsaints is available not only stateside, but online, i’m free to get as giddy as i want.  and seriously, there’s a lot to be giddy about.

from left to right, by row: port crew jumper, $120; cassiopeia dress, $250; college cardigan, $120; lumix hoodie, $125; suesha cardigan, $135; dory dress, $120; willow cardigan, $135; imogen shoe, $225.

and i didn’t even get started on the accessories!

every piece is just so perfectly “basic plus” – the kind of piece that seamlessly jumps right into your wardrobe, and manages to elevate all of your looks.

and, in case you needed more reason, allsaints is offering free shipping right now to celebrate the launch of their US site!  just keep in mind that the clothes are available stateside, but the sizing is still british.  that’s code for having to jump two sizes up from your normal size (ie, if you’re an 8, you’re a 12 in the UK).  torture, i know…but that’s the price of fashion.

so, what do you think of allsaints?

i’m so pleased with my latest brainstorm, i can hardly stand it. it all started with tan trench coats invading the spring runways. slowly, it creeped into my brain that i actually owned such a coat – albeit one from at least five years ago, and not something i’d considered terribly stylish (hence its residence in the very back of my guest room closet). but these new trenches were hip and perfect, and i couldn’t figure out why.

finally, it dawned on me…black buttons! for some reason, it’s all about the black buttons – the contrast in color adds the perfect edge to this classic. then, i started seeing them paired with that amazing military belt from burberry prorsum. if you haven’t seen it, it’s $350 and, if that weren’t prohibitive enough, it’s also sold out absolutely everywhere.

i knew there had to be a better way. and so, i’ve turned my lust for this:

(wait…go back and take another look at that belt. so fabulous, i can’t stop thinking of ways to wear it!)

…into reality with this:

yep, that’s my old tan trench (find something like it here or here) + the application of larger black buttons (thank you, tailor) + a quick google to track down *actual* military belts = exactly the style i wanted for spring, and it was in my closet the entire time. my tailor wanted about $15 for the button swap, and the belt is a very thrifty $9.99, leaving me with a whole new piece for under $25. not bad for a little brainstorming! plus, that little $10 belt is going to do some serious work this spring – i already have plans to pair it with pastel cardigans and cutoff shorts, and to edge up my girly floral summer dresses.

now i’m finding myself trying to figure out what else in my closet could stand a little updating. is anything in your wardrobe ready for a remodel?

(editor’s note:  my belt arrived! and it’s fabulous in person – just what i was hoping for!   a little tip on sizing: make sure you measure your waist.  the sizes listed are exact lengths for the belts…i guessed based on my denim size, and was totally off.  i’d say a small would fit you if you wear up to a 28 in denim; if you’re a 29-32, you’ll want the medium.)

i’m resurrecting this end-of-the-week mishmash of my latest favorite things…but i think we need a better title, don’t you?  suggestions?

to start, i can’t forget to tell all of you that bloomingdales is having its annual friends & family sale through sunday 3/28.  you can nab 20% off just about everything with code BFF.  there are just too many finds to post, but trust me…it’s worth a look!

british chef jamie oliver makes my favorites list this week not just because i have a huge tv crush on him (and i do).  it’s partially because of his new cookbook, jamie’s food revolution, which is full of some great recipes that are easy and fast, including loads of excellent curry recipes, which are hard to come by.  but also, my tv crush is coming back to tv!  he has a new show coming on that starts tonight on abc, and i can’t wait!

speaking of crushes, i have an official crush on this dress by eskell (courtesy of the always-enticing le train bleu):

normally, i am thoroughly unenthused by warm-weather attire.  but this dress is utter perfection. for those of you dying to try the bold layering/color contrasting trends that are so hot this spring, this dress is a foolproof way to go about it.  it would so easily go from office to weekend with just a change of shoes, and it has the most flattering cut i could imagine!

i’m almost embarrassed to show you this scarf by yigal azrouel, because it is so hideously expensive ($380.  i know, i know.):

but then, it’s soooo beautiful, how could i not share?  oh scarf, the lovely things i could do with you…all my jeans and tees would suddenly be chic and perfect. (and by the way, yes, the expression on that model’s face does make you think that maybe you accidentally slept with her boyfriend.)

as penance for making you lust after a $400 scarf, i’m going to show you my favorite bag for the summer (ahem…well, so far, at least), which happens to be an utter steal.

i love everything about this bag from mothology – the rough cotton/hemp cloth, the nautical french stripe, the leather handle…it’s total warm-weather perfection, and it’s only $82.  it reminds me of something elegant ladies would carry to the seashore.

have a fabulous weekend, all!

(editor’s note: ooh, looks like vosges is on sale at gilt groupe this morning.  so, um…hop to it! grab an invite here, and the sale’s right here.)

you know how most people complain about weight gain over the thanksgiving-christmas-new year’s eve time of year?  personally, i have no trouble passing up yet another plate of fruitcake or turkey.

but easter.  ohhhh, easter.  ’tis the season for chocolate, hot cross buns, and all of those yummy egg-shaped candies (cadbury, i’m looking at you!).  plus all of those macarons (and macaroons) being baked up for passover (oh yes, i’m an equal opportunity binger).  and everything’s so cuuuuute!  pink speckled eggs, little bunnies and lambs…it’s too much to resist.  most of these fabulous treats are only around once a year, so naturally, i start stockpiling like a squirrel in winter as soon as the valentine’s day candy leaves the shelves.  my house right now is a diabetic coma waiting to happen.

but even with my extreme expertise in the realm of easter treats, i’ve come up with some new loves this year.  most of them are from vosges, whose chocolate is wonderful any time of year.  but when besides easter can you get bacon and eggs in candy form?

yeah, they’re at least as good as they look.  okay, who am i kidding….they’re way, way better.  if you’re skeptical (as i was, believe me), just remember how good bacon tastes dipped in maple syrup.  now imagine it’s caramel instead.  with a chocolate shell.  i know.

and i can’t really be expected to resist bunnies stuffed with toffee and pink himalayan sea salt either, can i?

then there are the absolutely adorable little truffles my mom sent me (how cute is she for sending me an easter basket?) from another favorite chocolatier, moonstruck chocolates, based right here in portland.

i haven’t been able to bring myself to eat them yet…in person, the cute factor is just overwhelming.  but don’t fear…i’m sure my sweet tooth will win out.

you’re totally craving chocolate now, aren’t you?  yeah, sorry about that.  my advice is to just give in…after all, easter only comes once a year.  grab any (or all…hey, it’s the holidays!) while you can!

ever on the lookout for that elusively perfect eye cream, i test more than my fair share.  but when relastin’s eye silk arrived, i had to stop and take note.

i requested this one initially because it received the editors’ beauty award for best eye cream from allure magazine for the third year straight.  i figured there must be something good going on there.  but even if it didn’t do a thing for my eyes, i was utterly fascinated by it from my first use.  the texture is crazy unique:  it literally does feel like silk!  it comes out of the pump looking sort of like a cream/gel hybrid, but on contact, it warms and softens and disappears almost instantly into your skin.  i actually ran out and forced some onto my hubs’ hand the moment i tried it, yelling “you have to feel this!”  (i know, he should be the one with a blog. all about his bat crazy wife.)

anyway. cool science special effects notwithstanding, i can also say i think this has done a great job of keeping fine lines at bay, and generally keeping my eye area happy. also, i love that i can put it on and there’s no feeling of eye cream under my eyes, as with most other products.  i haven’t noticed huge changes on the dark circle front, but i’m starting to believe my aesthetician’s claim that they’re genetic, so i’m essentially hosed.

if you’re intrigued, it will set you back $69 (though it’s a relatively large bottle, and will last you at least six months).  and i did track down a 20% off code for you at skinstore.com – use SPRING20 when you order.  hey, every little bit helps!

well hello, readers!  i missed you last week. but the whole time i was gone, i was taking furious notes of all the things i had to tell you about when i returned.  yes, i spent nearly all of last week revisiting my old stomping grounds in san francisco.  thank goodness the city is still as amazing as i remember…though i don’t miss that 9% sales tax!

i shopped and shopped, and then i shopped some more.  i got tees at H&M, mugs at jonathan adler, a tour of the new spring collection at michael kors, macarons (and way too much candy) at miette patisserie, made several trips to bloomingdales and barneys, neiman marcus and saks, and drank my weight in cappucinos at my favorite italian cafe.  and i topped it all off with lunch at neiman marcus’ rotunda restaurant, quite possibly my favorite lunch spot ever.  how can you not love a huge stained glass dome, birds-eye view of union square, all the popovers you can eat, and live models trailing couture past your table.

i also got to catch up with several of my dear friends that i left behind in san francisco (hi to A and J!), and spend some much-needed quality time with my sweet mom.  and i finally (finally!) got to meet the lovely connie, who’s been my e-friend for years, and is now a real live in-person friend.  love that!

sigh….i’m exhausted just reading that!  yes, i had missed my city.  and i worked very, very hard to hit all the spots i missed while i was gone.  i picked up so many new tips, brands and ideas that i can’t wait to share…but for now, i have to start with what i brought home, don’t you agree?

my big splurge was this amazing leather blazer by vince – on super markdown at barneys, i might add.  vince calls it their ‘paper leather,’ and it really is amazingly thin, light and matte – plus it has knit panels on the underside of the sleeve and along the sides, which makes it ultra-comfy and perfect for layering.  this is last fall’s style (which i prefer for being infinitely less trendy), but if you want to see the current incarnation with its asymmetrical lapels (also very cute), it’s right here.  i can hardly wait to start pairing it with cropped jeans and frilly spring dresses.  you know, something like…

…this ella moss version i picked up (also on the barneys supersale).  it’s not online any longer (the hazard of buying on sale…), but this one is awfully similar.  just imagine it with short sleeves and no black mesh detailing.  i’m already plotting to pair it with black tights and short boots now (and that fabulous new jacket!), and a chunky nude sandal come spring.  i love that there’s a bit of black in this print – it keeps it just shy of being girly overkill, and will make it so easy to layer with darker colors.

and last, i couldn’t resist these gorgeous bronze (really more of a coppery shade) mirrored cutout flats from belle by sigerson morrison – they were a last-minute treat from neiman marcus.  i love these as an alternative to sandals (especially when the pedicure’s looking a little less than perfect), and can’t wait to use them to dress up cutoff shorts or boyfriend jeans this summer.

other than that (ha!), i was pretty restrained.  i passed up oh so many luscious handbags, and managed to avert my eyes from the jewelry department every time i went to barneys.  but even with all that self-control (ha again), it was an ab fab trip, and i can’t wait to do it again.

how was your weekend?

ever since moving to rainy portland, i find that i spend a lot less time carrying my expensive handbags.  it’s just not worth the heartache when a spring shower descends.  instead, more often than not, i turn to an easy, no fuss tote to get me through the day.  and these new duck bags from baggu may be my favorite yet!

i love that they have both a tote handle and a shoulder strap (which, by the way, also works as a crossbody strap, making it awesome for travel).  i love the bright, cheery rainbow of colors, and the fact that they’re light as a feather but surprisingly durable (i’ve been using mine as a magazine tote, and it shows no signs of surrender, even under the weight of the spring fashion issues).

yes, i love a lot of things about this bag.  but i positively adore the price tag:  $20.  how’s that for a thrill?

be still my heart!  i’ve been hunting for these fiorentini + baker boots for literally months, ever since they sold out at barneys (the curse of trying to wait until they go on sale).  as usual, i fell hard for a designer that’s all but impossible to find in the states.  fortunately, i finally spotted them courtesy of blue moss, a gorgeous little blog, and now i’m plotting….how am i going to bring these babies home to live with me?

ahhh, i’m so in love!  fiorentini + baker makes some of the best boots around…perfectly distressed, beautifully made, and don’t you just love that blue?  most definitely a worthy splurge.  now i just have to track down $538…sigh.  fashion is a cruel, cruel mistress.

those lovely ladies over at the daily obsession asked me to help out with their “insider’s obsessions” series this month.  calling me an insider and giving me a chance to gab about cashmere and scarves?  there was really no way i was going to turn that down.  plus, i miss my days as a TDO editor, and couldn’t resist reliving the magic!  you simply have to check it out…it’s a pretty fab list, if i do say so myself.

a huge welcome to those of you who’ve strayed over here – i hope you’ll stick around!  (oh, and i swear, the TDO gals and i didn’t coordinate obsessing about liberty of london for target on the same day…just goes to show that sometimes we’re so alike, we share a brain.)

have a great weekend, everyone!

i literally can. not. wait. for the liberty of london/target collaboration to hit stores this sunday (3/14).  as in, i start bouncing up and down in my chair if i think about it too much.  yep, my husband is about to be living in a sea of chic, kitschy floral…and you know, i have not a smidge of guilt!

for those that aren’t familiar, liberty of london is an amazing, iconic department store based in (surprise) london.  they’re best known for their stunning textiles, especially their signature bold florals.  for their collaboration with target, they’ve lent their signature patterns to everything from lingerie to teacups…and i’m thinking i’ll need (at least) one of nearly everything in the collection.

to tide me over until sunday, i thought i’d share a little sneak peek of my favorite pieces from the collection:

(all photos graciously provided by target corp)

yes, the shopping list is long, i realize…fortunately, nearly everything in the collection tops out at about $50, and most is much, much less than that.  so really, my hubs should be thrilled i’m saving him so much money.  right?

see you at target this sunday!