One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since starting this blog (longer ago than I care to mention) is that it may be the clothes that make the man, but it’s the accessories that make the outfit.

Think of it this way: take a classic white shirt and a pair of straight-leg jeans. Add a pearl necklace and a patent skinny belt, and you’re one person. Change it up for a big, bright statement necklace and a rock-and-roll ankle boot, and you’re entirely another. Add nothing at all, and you’re….well, unless you’re Kate Middleton, you’re blahs-ville.

Doing my usual obsessive online browsing sale shopping yesterday, I came across so many gorgeous accessories on amazing sales (DANNIJO on sale? Never!), I could hardly believe my luck. Since I can’t buy them all, I’m having a little virtual shopping spree with you…hoping some of you will reap the rewards.

Left to right, top to bottom: MAWI bracelet, $244 (from $490) / Love Moschino Frog Queen box clutch, $103 (from $209) / DANNIJO necklace, $207 (from $417) / M Missoni bag, $242 (from $486) / DANNIJO ring, $95 (from $321) / Kenneth Jay Lane necklace, $194 (from $391) / Iosselliani necklace, $110 (from $222). Not pictured, but too lovely not to share: Mysuelly bag, $265 (from $666) / Alice by Temperley scarf, $95 (from $240)

And then there’s the matter of the Epice scarves I found marked way, way down at Yoox, a phenomenon so extraordinary, it almost certainly deserves its own post. This is probably less fantasy and more reality, as I let this pretty one on the left out of my clutches a year ago, and have regretted it ever since.

It wouldn’t take more than one of these to instantly transform virtually any outfit (even the one you’re wearing today, I suspect). That kind of power is definitely an investment worth making.

The very sweet Alexa Leigh sent me an email recently, asking me to take a look at her wares. I was woefully unprepared for how hard I fell for them.

Pendant necklaces are easy to come by, but extraordinary, unique versions are a rare breed. I absolutely love this dual pendant idea – unbelievably clever, but so simple. Wear one long and low, with the second pendant tucked up against your neck. And when summer arrives, think of how amazing this would be dangling down the back of a strapless dress or tank top.

Best of all, you can customize these beauties to your heart’s content. Any charms, any metal, diamonds or not (though, really, who says no to diamonds?). I’m imagining a yellow gold moon on a rose gold chain with a pretty pink heart on the other end, to remind me of my grandmother. And I have a dear friend who could use that pavé Om charm, paired with a star, to remind her that she’s a star in her own right.

Which would you choose?

A big welcome back to my favorite stylist, Kim of Billede Design. I so look forward to her “Trend to Try” columns – she always manages to make me look at my closet in a new way, which is something I think we can all use. I’m thrilled to say Kim will now be here every second and fourth Friday of the month, so mark your calendars!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you want to give yourself away as a non-native Pacific Northwesterner (or, for that matter, a non-New Yorker), just wear color. Any bright color. Even though I’ve lived in Portland for over a decade now, I just can’t give up color! And this season, brights are here in a really big way. From color blocking to pattern mixing, it’s everywhere. I especially am fond of brights paired with stripes (and not just because it sort of rhymes!). Because stripes are such an easy staple to wear, they’re a great starting point to help you ease into bolder color.

This Christmas, my hubby got me an item that was at the very top of my wish list.  The Kate Spade Prize Ball Thermos. It takes me forever to finish my morning cup (or 3) of coffee and I am so excited to have this bright thermos to keep it toasty warm!

Image via Kate Spade

Pulling off brights from head to toe can be a bit tricky. The key is to always start with a neutral base and build from there. I especially love using stripes as my neutral, and building from there, but it’s not the only way to go. These looks from Christian Siriano’s Spring 2012 line are a great example.  You can see he used blush as a neutral, as well as coordinating stripes to get the look.

Images via New York Magazine

I’m not a huge fan of the cut of this Jil Sander jacket, but the color combo is another stellar example. To neutralize the tomato, fuschia, and green, the black jacket was layered over the top.

Image via Style

In this look from Loewe, the neutral is the model.  This hot pink and red combo works because the model’s hair and make up are sleek and fuss-free. The short skirt with the nude leg and neutral flat ground the look. If this was paired with a sky high bright heel, heavy make up, and over-styled hair, it would totally loose any aspect of savvy and sophistication.

Image via Style

Of course, any post about brights and stripes just wouldn’t be complete without a look from Kate Spade. In this example, you can see the neutral element is the white cardigan, white purse, and simple flats.

Image via Kate Spade

 J.Crew is another great reference source for both bold color and stripes, so they work the combo as brilliantly as you’d expect. The look at left is certainly one of the boldest we are looking at today – think of it as “brights for the advanced student”. The colors are bit off-kilter from your typical primary brights, which totally makes this look work for me. Contrasting that is a great “beginner’s” option for mixing stripes and brights – you can see that a classic navy stripe is just the thing to neutralize a bright hue.

Images via jcrew

These last three images are some of my favorite street style examples (originally found via Pinterest). Notice how each of these looks are bold, but the hair, make up, and shoe is kept simple and neutral. I especially love that bold mustard mini-dress toned down with the navy blue blazer. And I just can’t say enough about the necessity of a good nude heel – it can tie together even the boldest look seamlessly.

 

Images via Sterling Style & The Glamourai

What do you think? Are you ready to give bold brights and stripes a try?

Oh, how I adore reader mail….

Dear Shopping’s My Cardio:

I have a fabulous trip to Iceland planned for February (yes, February) and I will be spending a few days in Reykjavik.  I have heard that Icelanders are very fashion-forward and I don’t won’t to look like an American tourist in New Balance sneakers and a Helly Hansen fleece while I am there. Any suggestions for winter chic in a cold cold land? And no, I also don’t want to look like Lisbeth from Dragon Tattoo….

 ~ A Loyal Reader

While I question the timing (brr!), Iceland has become the hot new destination (pun sort of intended) for adventurous jetsetters. A few months back, Iceland’s tourism board ran some amazing travel specials, and several of my friends jumped at the chance to be exotic on a budget.

But then, there’s also a fair contingent of SMC friends who reside in the Great White North, so I thought perhaps they wouldn’t mind a little primer on staying warm in style.

To start, spend some time on Google Images looking at celeb style at Sundance. Sure, it’s aspirational, but it’s also a great starting point for chic cold-weather wear. For the most part, it consists of skinny jeans tucked into Sorel boots, down parkas or shearling, great chunky scarves and a fabulous pair of sunnies to shield your eyes from all that sunlight bouncing off the snow.

{Images c/o Marie Claire, PopSugar and Ralph Lauren}

Pack your bags with staples like denim (I’d take one boot-cut and one skinny/jegging) and a couple of great sweaters (one pullover, one cardigan). Add a few classic layering pieces, like a plaid flannel shirt in a modern color combo or a perfect long-sleeved tee (my favorites are from LA Made). Take a pair of Sorels – I love the aprés ski vibe of this grey flannel version – and a second weather-friendly pair (thick-soled Fryes would be perfect, or a biker-style rain boot is a fun upgrade). For good measure, toss in a long-sleeved sweater dress that can double as a tunic during the day and a dinner dress at night.

To top it all off, you’ll need a couple of knockout scarves, a great pair of sunnies (aviators are my current favorite), and the perfect down parka to keep you warm – just be sure it has enough shape to keep your curves intact. I love the idea of opting for a white parka over the usual black – it instantly adds a hefty dose of style to your look. Brooklyn Industries is genius at making a puffer that flatters – the waistline on this version is unbelievably slimming, and the super sale price doesn’t hurt.

Brooklyn Industries Zermatt puffer coat ($139) / Pendleton cardigan ($100) / Sorel Norquay ($150) / Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody ($138) / LL Bean flannel ($40) / Cashmere henley sweater ($107) / Juicy Couture rain boot ($125) / Guess aviators ($50) / Muk Luks convertible gloves ($21)

A few bonus tips:

• Layer – after all, you’ll be inside a fair bit too, and you’ll want to regulate that temperature. And make sure the coat you pack is lightweight, so you can tote it through indoor venues without breaking a sweat.
• Take a tiny crossbody bag like this one from Marc by Marc Jacobs ($138), so that when you’re carrying that down coat around, you won’t lose feeling in your arms
• Warm socks are key. Do yourself one better and pick up a pair of fleece-lined tights (I found mine at Nordstrom Rack for under $10). Use them at night to keep your legs warm in that dinner dress, but you can also layer them under denim if the cold is too much to take.
• Don’t be afraid of prints. A bold pattern on a cardigan will make repeat wears more pleasant – just steer away from trite Nordic themes. Go with tribal, stripes or mod, and you’ll be ahead of the tourist pack. (Plus, you’ll want to score a Fair Isle knit as a souvenir, no?)
• Skip the jewels. Pick a favorite simple pendant and a stud earring, and leave the rest home. Chunky bangles are a mess with gloves, and statement earrings will only get caught on your scarf.

Do any of you frozen tundra-dwellers have any words of wisdom to add for our stylish friend?

Really, what else is there to say?

Well, there is one thing to say. My favorite piece of the season seems to have finally returned in a size M (who knows how many there are): the Double-Faced Crewneck Jacket. As soft as their regular cashmere, but so much more structured, it plays perfectly for business. Fair warning: it runs a bit on the trim side, and you’ll note that little “all sales are final” disclaimer above. I’m a size 10, and it’s a snug (but do-able) fit on me. On a 6-8, it’d be genius. Especially at $125.

Go forth and shop, friends!

There’s a new girl in town, and she’s something special. Created by the former head buyer at Shopbop, A Man And A Woman is Erin Crandall’s latest creation – a heavily curated boutique packed with standout pieces from Crandall’s favorite designers.

L’Agence layered dress, $410 / Chris Benz sweater, $644

(Can we talk about how in love I am with that Chris Benz sweater for a moment?)

Crandall has done a brilliant job of selecting a few classic workhorse staples, but balancing them with loads of special, splurge-worthy buys I haven’t seen anywhere else. And, unlike her last gig, less is more – every piece feels like it was hand-selected for a very cool, effortlessly stylish girl. The end result is hip and fashion-forward, but totally approachable. Instead of drowning in options, Crandall only offers a few – but they’re all exactly right.

Brochu Walker sweater, $395 / L’Agence dress, $412

For the most part, they’re splurges – no question. But there are plenty of accessible buys in the mix – Current/Elliott denim, L’Agence cocktail dresses and the like, all of which rank in that dangerous “expensive, but do-able” range. If you’re a person that likes to buy one or two perfect pieces and wear them all season, this is the spot for you.

Patmos cardigan, $595 / L’Agence shift, $297

Oh, and same-day delivery if you live in Manhattan (you NYC girls have all the fun). Happy browsing!

 

Welcome to the first Friday Finds of the new year! I’ve been storing up some goodies to share, and am so glad we’re finally back to business as usual, so I can get to it.

My first shopping task every year is a new calendar, but it’s a tough call these days. So many artists put together renditions that are absolutely stunning, but then there’s the question of function, too. Decisions, decisions.

I could go purely for pretty…

Trellus 2012 calendar, by Michelle Armas

Paris 2012, Little Brown Pen

…or look for a little function. If you happen to be in Portland or Austin, these Big Weekend calendars are about the coolest thing ever. Every random festival, event or happening around town is included, so you’ll never miss the Tigard Balloon Festival again! (My hubs, as you’d imagine, is thrilled.)

I’m going to need a calendar to mark off the days if I indulge in a little pre-order of 3.1 Philip Lim’s pre-fall collection at Moda Operandi, as I am sorely tempted to do. Not only do you get to be first in line (almost as good as scoring it on sale), but you pay half up front and half when it delivers next summer (by which point, you’ve already forgotten about the first half you spent). Plus, look at the pretty!

 

Of course, darling Philip is a splurge, no matter how you slice it. So, I’ll temper the wallet pain with a little cheap thrill. I’ve had this Rugby Ralph Lauren fair isle cardi bookmarked for the longest time, and now it’s on sale for $139. The sun’s bound to come out eventually, but for now, I’d be happy to spend the rest of the winter snuggled up in this and a pair of skinny jeans.

Happy Friday, friends! Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week.

So, we’ve talked about beauty resolutions and splurge-y resolutions. But what about a resolution that (at least on its face) won’t cost you a cent? I’m talking about a fashion resolution…one that’s built to help you look your best in 2012 with only a minimum of effort.

Every year, I make a fashion resolution for myself. Just a little something to help me step out of the same old sartorial box, so to speak. My first fashion resolution was to wear more scarves. They’d always felt daunting to me – like I didn’t have that effortless something that consummate scarf-wearers you see out in the world (mostly in Paris) seem to have. But they bring so much color and style to a look, plus they’re just gorgeous to look at. So, I committed to spending a year getting to know scarves. And by the end of that year, I had a healthy new scarf collection (and a mild obsession with Epice). But I also had something less tangible: no more scarf-related anxiety. And that, it turns out, is exactly what that “effortless something” was. Scarf-wearing people just do it. Throw them on without a care, without worrying too much about matching or tying or perfecting, et voila.

The next year it was ankle boots. I hadn’t owned a single pair, but I was intent. And now? Total short boot aficionado – it’s an illness, really. And then, last year was jewelry. Sure enough, by the end of 2011, not only had my jewelry box expanded considerably, but I actually taught myself (well, with the help of certain talented friends) to make a few pieces on my own, which has proven to be immensely satisfying, in that “Told you I could do it” sort of way.

The key is to keep it small, and specific. Pick one particular thing you’d like to do better in your sartorial life, and decide to make it happen. Are you envious of a friend who always has the most stunningly creative up-dos in her hair (Kim Brandt, our style-savvy new columnist is one such person for me)? Commit to wearing your hair up more in 2012. Are scarves still scary for you? Trust me – they’re not. Resolve to give it a try.

As for me, my BFF has mentioned on more than one occasion that I might be a little too reliant on denim in my wardrobe (I believe her exact words were something like “I can’t remember the last time I saw you wear something other than jeans.”). My initial reaction was that she should be glad I wear anything other than a ratty tee and yoga pants, given the fact that I work from home 90% of the time. Plus, the chasm between denim and work-ready trousers is deep, and mighty hard to traverse (khakis? cropped skinnies?). But after the initial defensiveness wore off, I gave it some more thought. Why not branch out a bit? Sure, denim is wonderful, and I have no intention of banning it from my closet. But maybe I could try a few alternatives, and see what happens. It’s worth a shot, surely.

All this to say that 2012 may well be the year of the pant. A few ideas that are already brewing in my head:

{Options from: Zara / Sonia Rykiel / Zara again / Tory Burch / More Tory Burch}

(Do you like how I used the fancy graphic to turn this into an “Official Resolution”? Mind games – I tell you, they work.)

I’ll keep you posted on this little experiment, naturally. But in the meantime, are there any fashion resolutions you’re thinking of undertaking? The “Year of the Tiara” perhaps?

It’s all about resolutions this week at SMC. But not the kind that make you feel sad and lazy because you skipped the gym only 6 days into the new year. I’m talking about the kind of resolution that you get excited about! The kind you can’t lose! The kind that’s totally, totally worth keeping.

This year, I’m resolving to save for a true worthy splurge. I’m still narrowing the field, but leaning heavily toward a Chanel bag for myself (don’t panic – consignment is just fine by me). Or a trip to Paris (with my new Chanel bag…).

Saving, as opposed to hemorrhaging money every time Sigerson Morrison shows up on Gilt Groupe, can be a tricky business. Especially once you get a hefty chunk of change in the bank – all of a sudden, that $200 Inhabit cardigan on super sale at The Outnet feels like a steal. So, to help me keep my resolution, I’ve scoured the interwebs for photos of my dream bag, made myself a little inspiration board, and will be printing it (on actual paper), and hanging it somewhere within easy view of my computer screen.

Images: 1 (c/o Sony Pictures) / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

This way, whenever temptation comes calling, I’ll have an immediate reminder of the greater good – and, hopefully, at least allow myself a moment to prioritize.

Now, does this mean I’m squirreling away every spare cent until my goal is reached? Or that I’m not spending a dime on other purchases until it happens? Of course not. Deprivation is not a virtue in my book. Telling myself I can’t have anything only makes me want everything. This applies in shopping, in diets, even in life.

But it means I’m going to take a breath before I type in those credit card numbers. It means I’m going to look at those gorgeous photos of my dream bag, and decide if the purchase in question is worth setting me back on my goal just a bit. To put it in Buddhist parlance, I’m hoping to be a bit more mindful. And if this splurge takes two (or ten) years to make, I’ll be just fine. Chanel, however lovely, is not an emergency.

So, here’s a fun question: If you resolved to save for a worthy splurge, what would it be?

Hi, friends! I’ve missed you so. How was your holiday season? I hope each and every one of you rested, relaxed, and ate much too much (but not so much that your jeans are tight today).

I’m running a little late today, but I can hardly be blamed. With new markdowns at Shopbop (additional 20% off sale items already 50% or 70% off with code EXTRA20), new markdowns at Net-a-Porter and a slew of new arrivals at The Outnet, not to mention a week’s worth of blog reading to catch up on, I burned my surfing hours this morning in a most irresponsible way. I’m also nursing a cold, which doesn’t help anyone move any faster. But I know you understand.

In any case, I’ve been thinking a lot about resolutions over the last couple of days…’tis the season, after all. To be honest, I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions, in the traditional sense. Not at all. Take a picture a day, read a book a month, go to the gym three times a week – they’re all laudable goals, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that, in my opinion, anything that sets you up for failure and self-loathing is a bad way to start the year.

But I think there’s a way to craft a resolution that can bring you only joy and satisfaction, and those are the variety I heartily endorse. So, this week, I thought we’d talk a little about that.

Today’s suggestion? Do something better for yourself – make a beauty resolution.

{Because, really, what resolution could be better than one that leaves you with skin like this?}

Splurge on that amazing facial product you’ve been eyeing – your skin deserves its best year yet. Sure, maybe you can’t afford to revamp your entire system right now, but start with one really decadent product you’ll look forward to putting on every day. My latest obsession is Armani’s Regenessense, which works wonders for making my skin lighter, brighter and infinitely happier. It dissolves worries and redness, and gives you that glow you thought could only be achieved through pregnancy or airbrushing. Yes, it’s $140 a bottle. But it will last 3-4 months, which is critical to remember when gasping at the cash register as you invest in these things.

Resolve to exfoliate. Or to treat yourself to a monthly pedicure. Or a beautiful, bold red lipstick that will make you feel like the daring diva you secretly are. Or, take it a step further and resolve to get yourself quarterly facials. If you’re anything like me, facials get relegated to the bottom of the spa list (massages being just that wonderful). But if you find a wonderful aesthetician (my favorites, if you happen to be in Portland, are Brynndle at Portland Spa or Ginny at Blooming Moon), they’ll make the experience as relaxing as any massage, with the added benefit of making you look amazing for days afterward.

Whatever it is that will make your heart a little lighter when you look in the mirror, or make you a little more excited to head to the bathroom for your nighttime facial routine – resolve to treat yourself to it this year.

So, tell me – what beauty resolutions are you inspired to make? I’d love to hear! And tomorrow, we’ll talk fashion resolutions. As you might expect, I have a few.