oh…

my…

goodness.

how, oh how, did i not know about maison scotch until now? if you’ve been in the dark, like me, they’re a fashion design team based in amsterdam (maison scotch is their women’s line, and scotch and soda is the men’s line…love!), and i think i want one of just about everything they make.  thankfully, the prices are good enough that i might even be able to swallow the 25 EUR charge for shipping to the states.  you’ll want your handy dandy currency converter, of course, but i think you’ll find their prices comparable to j.crew, perhaps even a bit more budget-friendly.

a big thanks to the always-amazing dallas shaw for turning me on to this fun!

as you know, i’m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest beauty goodies to make your (and my) life easier.  so when i heard sally hansen had released complete salon manicure, a new polish that promises an all-in-one base coat, color and top coat, i had to try it for myself.

ordinarily, i shun the DIY manicure, and so my nails spend most of their days in an uninteresting semi-sheer nude that’s in no danger of showing its various states of disrepair.  i’m just too clumsy to apply bold colors myself, and i’m unwilling to commit to anything too exciting when i’m at the manicurist.  so i was curious to see if the new sally hansen product could make a color-switching convert out of me.

when it comes to application, i loved the brush – it seems slightly wider and more controlled than most.  it was a little too thick at the edges to do a good job on the borders of my nails, but that could have just as easily been due to my lack of coordination.  at any rate, instead of the normal 20+ minutes of applying base coat, waiting for it to dry, applying color, repeat, applying top coat, and prancing around with my fingers waving in the air for the next hour, i spent roughly 3 minutes applying a coat of “commander in chic”, a dark purple-grey-brown blend.  it was a little slow to dry, but overall, so far, so good…i could get used to the easy road!

after living with the results for a few days, my verdict is mixed.  the polish coverage is great – very similar to higher priced brands.  but i did find longevity lacking.  after 2 days, my nails weren’t looking as great, and by day 3, it was time to re-do.  but then, by day 3, i was also tired of “commander in chic,” so i didn’t mind at all that it was time to switch.  it took until day 4 for me to officially make the change, but i downshifted to “wet clay” (drying on my nails as i type, in fact), a pale greige from their new tracy reese color collection, which i love.

the biggest benefit i’m seeing is that if i get the urge to, say, go red for a night, i can switch with minimal time involved, and i won’t have that nagging annoyed feeling of having spent “all that time” on my nails, only to undo it all the next day.  ultimately, i know i’ll be reaching for complete salon manicure for new, trendy colors i want to try out on my own – especially since i can pick up any of these shades at my neighborhood walgreens.  but for my regularly scheduled (full-service) manicure, i suspect i’ll stick with the full routine.

i know, i know, my camel coat obsession is mighty this year.  but i simply can’t resist sharing this news.  after all, some of you are probably starting to plot how you’ll spend those year-end bonuses, right?  i know i would be (ah, if only bloggers got year-end bonuses…).

max mara has just made their most iconic of camel coats, a perfect double-breasted cashmere that’s been in production at the fashion house since 1981, available online.

this is a first for the brand (most high-end fashion houses won’t do anything resembling e-commerce), so it’s quite the momentous offering.  you get to custom order your coat with a specialized lining, your initials are embroidered on the label, your coat is specially boxed and wrapped, and delivered to your door three weeks later.

can you imagine? this is the fashion equivalent of meeting your favorite rock star, i think…i’m swooning just imagining that big, beautiful box arriving at my door.

of course, perfection comes at a price.  this one will set you back a rent-worthy 1800 euros (about $2,400 USD at last count)…but if you remember my handy formula, you’ll know this is the very definition of a worthy splurge.

if nothing else, it’s a little bit of lovely monday eye candy for you!

hard to believe, i know, but it’s true.  goldyn is an NY- & LA-based boutique that’s home to hip, stylish brands like loeffler randall, epice, see by chloe and rag & bone…so a steal like this is serious news indeed!  use code luckydaily1 to score the deal, thanks to the genius negotiators over at lucky magazine.  it’s good today only (9/27), but should work sitewide.  i’m pining for a maya brenner rough diamond necklace…but am going to do my best to control myself.

i have to say, i love these ‘friday finds’ posts…they really do turn out as random as my week typically seems.

these beautiful new chocolate bars from vosges chocolate showed up on my doorstep this week (i love my job!), and wow.  a belt notch later, i can tell you they’re positively amazing.  vosges makes some of my favorite chocolates – they do an amazing job of creating seriously unique, unbelievably delicious flavors.  the pink peppercorns in the white chocolate/lemon zest bar might have been a tad strong, but utterly unlike anything i’ve tried. and there’s nothing at all wrong with blood orange caramel!  count me in.  next on my list to try is their new bacon chocolate chip pancake mix…yum!

i ran into this skirt from the tucker for target collection during a target outing this week, and dear readers, it is utterly fantastic in person!  i am now scouring my local targets to find my size, as it’s totally sold out online (reviewers have said it runs small, so beware).  this gold and navy brocade looks so, so much more luxe in person than it gets credit for being online.  it reminds me of something j.crew or kate spade would have produced, but the $39 pricetag is no lie.  wear it now with a drapey silk top and navy belted blazer, or a sleek cream cardi…and just try to imagine the holiday potential here!

speaking of j.crew, i was actively coveting one of the chunky bracelets from their fenton/fallon collaboration, but it sold out before i could justify the expense.  lucky for me their sister brand, madewell, has come up with a style i might even love more…and at half the price!  at $58, i’m having a very hard time finding the willpower to stop myself.

and last but not least, couldn’t resist sharing the friends & family action going on at hayden+harnett.  now through october 15, take 20% off any online order (including sale items, and pieces from other designers!) with code FALL10FRIENDS.  i checked with their designer, toni hacker, before i shared, and she assured me that she thinks of all you shoppingsmycardio readers as dear friends of hayden+harnett, so spend away!  i’d splurge on these tomtom pyramid stud earrings ($80) and the mystery scarf ($160), but i haven’t even gotten to the bags yet…

have a great weekend, everyone!

spotted at elie tahari:  i’ve decided this is the girl i want to be this season.

is there anything not to love about this look?  the low-slung, wide-legged trousers?  that gorgeous part-watercolor, part-animal print on the silk blouse?  the perfect contrast with that pumpkin-hued scarf?  and the softly tailored blazer…it’s all just divine. and since it’s from the always-wonderful tahari, the pieces are perfectly priced.

a few more girls to love from tahari’s fall collection:

you guys know i’m a sucker for a stunning coat…what can i say?

find pricing and details on all of these pieces at tahari’s genius website…just click an image, and every piece shown is listed out in perfectly accurate detail.  it’s an overly organized girl’s dream!

well, this is exciting.  how about 25% off sitewide at piperlime, today only?  use code 25SPREE to snag the deal.  and if you’re a little late, don’t despair.  you can get 20% off tomorrow, 9/22, with code 20SPREE, and 15% off on thursday, 9/23, with code 15SPREE.

the code’s good sitewide, with the teensy exceptions of frye, hunter, merrell and north face…but that leaves a whole lot of retail therapy to score for a song.

a few of my picks for this steal of a deal:

left to right, from top (prices listed pre-discount):  steve madden kinnetic in gold glitter, $59; tinley road jeweled cuff bracelet, $22; smitten sequin pocket cardigan, $143; those perfect cole haan leopard flats from last week, $168; j brand lovestory trouser jeans, $227; spun tri color scarf, $44

but enough about what i’d buy…i want to hear all about your own steals!

a few little pretties that followed me home this weekend…

i finally picked a new epice scarf to add to my fall wardrobe.  yes, an investment, to be sure, but i wear these daily when the weather’s cold, and get more compliments on them than maybe anything else i own.  this one (it’s hard to tell in the photo) is a beautiful geometric swirl pattern of black, eggplant and olive green…totally unexpected and totally gorgeous.  covet, my favorite portland boutique, has finally gone online, and they have exactly one of these beauties left.

my old LAmade grey and white striped cardigan has finally breathed its last breath, i’m afraid, and it needed to be retired in style.  i’ve put in an order for this version from madewell…i’m hoping desperately that it’s the first thing i order from them which won’t underwhelm me.  it has sold out online, but i got them to locate one and ship it to me (bonus: free shipping on store-located items!).

i tried my very best to make this a happy threesome by adding a set of wind chimes from pigeon toe ceramics when i headed over to their open studio on friday, but alas, there were none to be had.  they very sweetly offered to special order them, but i was in an instant gratification state of mind.  i do, however, have to confess that this miniature sugar and creamer set is maybe the cutest thing i’ve ever laid eyes on.

i also managed to finally polish off a couple of books that have been lurking on my “nearly done” reading pile…but more on those later.

how did you spend your weekend?

i’ve decided my big splurge this fall/winter will be a new camel coat.  it’s a classic that’s never, ever out of style, and since it’s particularly on-trend this year, i should have dozens of options to choose from.  the trouble, of course, is finding “the one”…that perfect choice that’s sufficiently timeless, on-trend and with that little something extra that makes them really special.

i’m trying my best to track down a stylish, less-pricey option, and have come up with a few choices, but none that i’m head-over-heels in love with.

on paper, this version from j.crew ($325) is exactly what i thought i wanted: a wool-cashmere camel trench.  and the price is definitely right.  but it’s lacking that luxe factor i was hoping to find.  it’s just a little more all-purpose “utilitarian” chic than i wanted.

for a similar price point, i could pick up this version from talbots ($329).  i love that it feels a bit more dressed up, but i’m not sure it’s love.

the color on this version from theory ($645) isn’t quite right (it’s a little dark), nor is the style (i like a belted waist).  but i do like the sharp tailoring, and for some reason, camel under $800 is a hard find this season.

or, for a considerably larger investment, i could get the one i really love.  color’s perfect, styling is divine, and it’s actual camel hair, which explains the price tag.  this one is $1195 from burberry.

it’s a worthy splurge, to be sure – a camel coat really is forever.  but i couldn’t help weighing whether the splurgiest version (burberry, naturally) is, you know, proportionately more wonderful than the others.  and then there’s always the potential that something even more wonderful could come along later, and i’ll wish i had waited.  agh, the agony of the splurge!

this little exercise has helped…i think i’ve made up my mind.  but before i confess, i’m curious to know what you think.  be honest!

loving the latest releases from cole haan…they seem to really be stepping up the design these days (ahem, pun not intended).

those camel pumps ($298) in particular are absolutely lovely.  the zipper detailing on the toe keeps them from being too bland, but they’re still incredibly versatile.  and that military olive messenger bag ($378) reminds me ever so slightly of the proenza schouler bag that’s been absolutely everywhere this season, but it’s cleaner, simpler…and about $1,300 cheaper.  but i’m pretty sure the “most likely to end up in my closet” award goes to those darling air bacara leopard flats, which are exactly what i’ve been searching for all season.

check out the rest of what’s new at cole haan right over here.