Kate M.W. ~ Despite my best efforts to maintain a healthy injection of colour, occasionally I quietly nestle back into neutrals, particularly when it’s overcast outside. This week I was inspired by the grey sky outside my window and this oversized clutch from Rachel Roy. Given its size and the presence of multi-function pockets, it’s the clutch’s answer to the small cross body bag. The mix of the midnight dusky blue, two-toned grey, and the subtle stripe of dull mint green is quiet enough not be overbearing but just graphic enough to not get lost in an outfit, setting the parameters as simple, easy, and refined.
Kate M.W. ~ I’ve still got Fashion Week brewing in the back of my head, and while the runways may have been looking forward to spring, September + Fashion Week always equates chic fall ensembles of grey and black in my mind. Because it’s all happening in New York, I’ll add a dose of “polished edge” – which is precisely what I thought when I saw this ring by Kelly Wearstler. There’s something industrial about the gunmetal setting, but light and crisp about the clear quartz.
Perforated Quartz Ring, Kelly Wearstler, $145
This fall, the fashion world is revolving around the deep toned colour of oxblood (or bordeaux, or maroon…), but instead of sporting it in coloured or coated denim, I’ve opted for a sleek rolled sleeve shirt. Maroon and grey are the stars of the narrative this week, so while I’m always an advocate of your favourite dark wash skinny jeans – try swapping them in for a worn-in slate tone. They’re equally as versatile as traditional indigo or black (pairing with all nearly all neutrals) but just ever so slightly unexpected.
Grey Carnelian Always Skinny Jeans, Gap, $70 / Roll Sleeve Shirt, Calvin Klein, $78 / Mid-Rise Always Skinny Jeans, Gap, $70
Building off of the colour palette inspired by the ring, I’ve kept the rest of the details humming along in perfect pitch. An oversized men’s gunmetal watch grounds a classic ensemble but plays off the hard industrial tone of the ring, and the small sparkling studs bring in just a touch of femininity. Both tie in edgy studded smoking loafers. Stuck with your indigo skinnies? Add a patterned grey scarf. Opted for grey? Emphasize solid neutrals with a simple black scarf. Either way, keep the overcast colours consistent with the bag – I like this particular selection as the python print and shape are just ladylike enough, and the leather trim brings in the oxblood colour. And since your focal point is a ring, be sure to paint your digits! Stick with the narrative in a chimney soot grey, or set off the grey/gold combination and contrast the bordeaux top with a green-toned deep gold.
City Storyteller Scarf, Madewell, $60 / Chimney Sweep or Wallis, butter London, $14 / M.A.B Mini Python Colorblock, Rebecca Minkoff, $525 / Natalie Watch in Smoke, Fossil, $145 / Brilliance Studs, Michael Kors, $75 / Black Silk-Cashmere Wrap, J.Crew, $75 / Martini Studded Loafers, Jeffrey Campbell, $170
This week’s equation? Polished edge + gunmetal + oxblood = a chic and ever so slightly industrial ensemble that’s all in the details.
Is there anything better than a summer Friday? I’m awfully excited about this week’s list of finds, so let’s get right to it, shall we?
I spent some time at Tiffany & Co last week checking out some top-secret goods you’re going to love…and managed to fall head over heels for these sunnies. The truth is that I’ve been coveting a pair of their sunglasses since they launched, but they were maybe a smidge too blingy. But these? Perfection…right down to the Tiffany blue flecks in the tortoiseshell.
Tiffany Locks sunglasses, $430
Too soon for fall? Never! For the first time since she branched into apparel, I find myself coveting a look from Rebecca Minkoff. Check out the drape on this shearling-lined trench…so, so versatile. And the dress (which, I’ll admit, I’d wear as a tunic) has one of those prints I’ll dream about.
Henry coat ($798) and Wednesday Dress ($368); both, Rebecca Minkoff
After those splurges, I owe you some steals, don’t you think? Spotted this spotted tunic (surely they aren’t serious about it being a dress) at Forever 21, of all places. Sure, it’s polyester, but it’s $20, and looks a lot like my Tucker tunics. Worth the gamble, I think.
Polka-dot dress/tunic, Forever 21, $20
I got the loveliest-smelling hand soap in the mail yesterday! It’s Neroli & Clementine by Mor, and it is heaven. The packaging is a little ’80s Asian, but I’m willing to call it kitschy and forgive them if it means I get to have this light, sweet/tart citrus fragrance in my life.
Neroli & Clementine body products, Mor, starting at $10
And last, of course, my Pinterest pick for the week. My new favorite way to save magazine clips is to use the Pinterest app to snap a quick pic of them. Be gone, cluttery inspiration board which I have nowhere to hang! Maybe this amazeballs Miu Miu jacquard jacket will materialize in its place.
Oh, and! While we’re talking Pinterest, you must check out Picnic, a genius new Pinterest tool that launched this week. Picnic lets you shop pins or find similar images. Things it’s great at: tracking down that polka dot tee someone pinned from a dead link; tracking down a decent substitute for that vintage YSL necklace your style icon pinned; finding more wedding bouquets like the one your BFF pinned. It’s also perfect for tracking down the source of a photo online, so you can credit things properly. Hallelujah! Install it, use it, love it.
That’s it for me, friends. If you’re in Portland this weekend, you might want to stop by Mercantile and check out their Lafayette 148 trunk show, by the way. I was pleasantly surprised by the direction they’ve taken this season. Very mod-chic, with loads of staples you’ll wear to threads.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Well, this is exciting. I got a hot tip over the weekend that the first preview catalog for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale had gone out to the VVIP customers, and I nabbed a sneak peek!
First, a little down-and-dirty on what’s happening with the sale this year. The official start date is July 15, but pre-sale shopping begins July 5. The pre-sale shopping option that’s typically been open to Nordstrom cardholders and other VIP customers is now only open to cardholders, allegedly. This means that no matter how much your salesperson loves you, they can’t let you pre-shop without a Nordstrom card. But, the upside, according to my sources, is that you get to take your goods home with you the day you shop, instead of having to head back to the store on opening day to pick up your pre-sale goods.
So, with that done, how about a little peek at my picks from the sale?
First up, shoes – since I know you’re all shoe nuts like me. Not much in the way of heels and flats, but there are some good boots to choose from.
Far right: Frye “Melissa” button-back boot, $219
Far right: Via Spiga “Kacey” riding boot, $259
Tory Burch riding boot, $299
The coats are really lacking this season…Nordstrom seems to have abandoned coats for capes, which is unfortunate, as they’re hard to wear – both literally and figuratively. But, if you must cape, there is one style I actually love – it has enough tailoring to keep the look clean and easily wearable:
Right: Helene Berman wool cape, $165
This Mackage coat is the other winner from the catalog. It’s still not something I’d love enough to nab, but the clean tailoring is nice, as is the leather detail at the sleeves. I do have a feeling this one’s going to be popular…so you’ll be seeing it out and about.
Mackage “Tessa” wool-blend coat with knit & leather trim, $389
As for the rest of the apparel, there are the usual suspects: a few highly-identifiable, under-$100 picks that everyone will be snatching up…and then a few special pieces that are worth a second look.
That Halogen pencil skirt on the first three models comes in 6 colors and is $45, so expect to see it on everyone in your office come August. The little cuffed ankle pant on the far right is by Amber Sun, and is also $45. I’m cautiously optimistic about the pants – they’re cute on the model, but atrocious in another image I saw, so it could definitely go either way.
Left 3: Halogen seamed pencil skirt, $45; Right: Amber Sun “Aubrey” pant, $45.
And, a few standout pieces that are perfect for giving your fall closet a little kick-start:
McGinn “Elizabeth” tweed jacket, $229
This silk blouse by Joie is one of maybe three pieces I’ll actually be nabbing from the sale. I love the bright teal, and it’s a perfect tunic shape, so you can easily dress it up or down. It’s hard to imagine beneath that fugly chunky knit vest, I realize…but try.
Joie “Marlo” blouse, in peacock, beige or grey, $145
If you’re not quite over the faux-fur trend, this Trina Turk cardigan is a great way to give it a try. While the photo doesn’t really provide much help, it’s a long, wrap-style cardigan, and the fur collar is removable. So, when you’re ready to retire the trend, you still have a classic camel cashmere cardigan in your closet.
Trina Turk “Deville” cardigan, $198
There’s always one killer splurge in the sale. Last year, it was a classic Burberry trench. This year, it’s this black faux-wrap dress by St. John. It’s a classic long-sleeved wrap cut (without the wardrobe malfunction potential), and it will be in your closet forever, making it a bargain by any standard.
St. John faux-wrap dress, $399
(Love those shoes she’s wearing too, by the way…Michael by Michael Kors, $99, but they have a 5-inch heel.)
Last but certainly not least, a few accessories to tie all this fun together. There are two big “splurge” bags this year – one by Chloe, which I thought was boring, and this one by Marc Jacobs. It’s hard not to love that pink, which is actually a bit more mauve in other photos.
Marc Jacobs “Karlie” shoulder bag, $866
And on the more reasonable end of the spectrum, I found myself quite liking the bag on the top left, below. The brand is “Roccatella,” which meant nothing to me until I saw it was a new diffusion line from Be&D, which makes amazing bags. I also love the Rebecca Minkoff bag in the bottom right image, though I’ve found the quality on RM bags a bit spotty lately. Love the ostrich-embossed leather, though, and it comes in 3 colors.
Top left: Roccatella by Be&D “Jane” belted leather satchel, $264; Bottom right: Rebecca Minkoff “Covet” flap bag, $282.
And my bracelet obsession continues with these options from Ippolita and Lagos. The Ippolita styles are the bangles in the center with the solid-set semi-precious stones, and the Lagos is that rope-style silver bracelet with the diamond X in the center.
Center: Ippolita bangles, set of 3, $394; Bottom, far right: Lagos Caviar X Diamond bracelet, $299.
That’s it, friends! Of course, if you see something else in these images that you’re dying for details on, just leave a comment, and I’ll give you all the info I can. In the meantime, give your favorite salesperson a call, and get a pre-shop date scheduled!
Happy Friday, all! It’s supposed to be sunny here in Portland this weekend, thank the good lord…we’ve earned it! So, let’s get right to the point so that I can head off and meet a friend for brunch (ah, the perks of working from home).
I’ve been loving Rebecca Minkoff’s new shoe collection…particularly these flats, which I very nearly bought last night. Should I have splurged?
And I’m pretty much completely in love with Kate Spade’s enamel bracelets this season, made even better by the cheeky little sayings engraved inside. We’ve officially passed “want” and are dangerously close to “need.”
Trouser jeans are everywhere this time of year, but face it – it’s going to be too hot very soon. When that day finally arrives, these chic inky linen trousers from Max Studio are going to be a stand-up stand-in. True, linen is awfully high-maintenance…but I think these might be just as pretty in their raw, wrinkled state as they are all pressed and perfect. What do you think?
And last up, if you’re in a do-gooder mood this weekend, stop by your local Kiehl’s on Saturday. They’re partnering with Share Our Strength, an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America, for an event that benefits everyone. Just for stopping in the store, you’ll get a 10-day sample of their Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, and they’ll donate $1.50 per person to Share Our Strength. Plus, a few of the stores are hosting bake sales. Cupcakes, no wrinkles, and you get to feel good about your day.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
i have a family wedding to attend this spring, and i’m dreading dropping serious change on a dress that i’ll wear once and will then wither at the back of my closet. instead, i’ve been thinking about the value of separates. picking up a formal skirt that can be repurposed in any number of ways feels fresh, but it also feels smart. i’m thinking that this skirt from the rodarte/opening ceremony collaboration might be an absolute necessity.
sure, at first blush (sorry, i had to…), this looks a little formal for anything but an evening event. but bear with me:
on the left, we have the wedding-guest ensemble…pitch perfect for any non-black-tie wedding, i think. but i’ll have endless options to restyle that skirt and use it all year long. that stunning blush shade, tinted with gold metallic, is pitch-perfect for warmer weather, and the semi-sheer, floaty crepe gives this a beautiful shape. it’s a little short, particularly for a knee-showing-phobe like me, but i’m thinking if i size up, it might just work. and the pricetag ($325) doesn’t feel that out of the budget realm for a special event…after all, i’d pay that much for a dress, i’m sure, and the skirt is endlessly more versatile. it could so easily be paired with a sleek black top and nude pumps (and maybe that sweet little bow belt?) to make it event-worthy, or a simple nude tank for cocktails, but it will also be amazing for day. the trick is to keep the rest of the look simple and ultra-casual – let the skirt steal the spotlight. add a white tee, denim jacket and perhaps some rachel comey booties, and you’re set!
i’ll be back shortly with your regularly scheduled fun, but wanted to let everyone know there’s an excellent sample sale on rebecca minkoff bags starting at ideeli at 8 am (pacific). the bags top out at about $275, and they have a huge selection – one of the biggest sales i’ve seen from ideeli. if you’re in the market, this one’s definitely worth checking out! i’m pretty high on the stingray morning after bag (left, $239) and the tequila gold rose (right, $129), which is sorely tempting me!
if you need an invite, just click here – i’ve got you all set up email me at editor at shoppingsmycardio dot com, or drop me a tweet. enjoy!
