Collaboration Celebration

I've noticed more and more collaborations that I've been loving - especially because for the most part they make something MORE affordable! Target comes to mind first as it seems like they're really pioneered this whole movement with designers like Zac Posen, Cynthia Vincent, and Rodarte to name a few recently.

Obviously paint has been top of mind and beyond the color I chose for my room I've been obsessing over all of Martha Stewart for Home Depot's colors...


I'm not usually very into light pinks, but I think this color (Ballet Slipper) would be so pretty for a Powder Room or maybe a big closet or dressing room (if you were lucky enough to have one!)

Another collaboration that I just came across was Mike Miller for West Elm. I first fell in love with Mike Miller's silhouettes through the John Derian website and have been pining away for one ever since - now they are in my reach! There's a whole serious of prints and pillows but I'm really loving the larger sized print - especially at a $79 price point for a framed print!


Last but certainly not least - I know it's not exactly news but I'm still obsessing over FENTONFALLON for JCrew. I drool over the cases with Fallon jewelry at Barney's and while the price-points haven't changed much they have edited their look a little to fit more into JCrew's repertoire - I mean, adding pearls to anything means it could be sold at JCrew I guess.

Lizzie Love

Look at these beautiful necklaces for Spring that I got in a Charm & Chain email yesterday! I die.

New Dawn Fades necklace

Frivolous Tonight necklace

Eclectic and Reckless necklace

Palace in Pondicherry necklace

Playing Dress Up

As if finding out that they sell wine at Target here didn't make me want to move back immediately on Day 2 of exploring with Karen we went to my absolute favorite store of all time- Collier West.

Between the two of us we must have tried on every piece of jewelry they had out. The one-of-a-kind necklaces they had were unbelievable. Words (or pictures, really) cannot do them justice and what makes them even better is they were all by Ohio designers! There were 2 that were my favorite one was a collection of all different shaped and sized gold chains and then one big strand of silver glass beads that almost looked like pearls. The other one that I couldn't' get over was also a collection of all different size an shapes silver, gold, and copper chains but much smaller and then they were held together in the middle by a vintage French belt buckle that I think must have been from a Roger Vivier shoe - regardless, it was so beautiful. There is another one of her pieces (not the one that I tried) in the picture in the top right.
Karen tried one on that made her look like Coco Chanel - it was a higher chain all different sizes of pearls and vintage gold and silver chains. They were all SO amazing. I borrowed this picture from the store's blog so you can get an idea (and also look at some of their new merchandise.)

Premature Planning

I hate how Christmas decorations go up right after Halloween and I hate even more that I'm joining the masses in looking right over Thanksgiving because it is my favorite holiday but when I saw this this morning I couldn't help myself but think about what's just around the corner...

...which then obviously turned into me thinking about all the things I'd like to have for a the holidays, so here is a little preview...
I guess these could be a little Christmas-sweater-ish but I think they're adorable...leave it to Kate Spade! (available at Nordstrom)



Remember that sequin Gucci blazer I wanted? This isn't it.

...but it's probably the closest I'm going to get, and it's really cute on. I think I'm going to rationalize it by having 2 things to wear it to. 1. My friend's wedding in Miami (more to come on that, because she has amazing taste and I can't wait to show you everything she's done) and 2. New Years, because what other holiday is there that something sparkly is required? (available at Bloomingdales)

I've been trying to stay away from Club Monaco lately because it's a dangerous place for a girl who really only wears black and white but when I saw one of their clutches in the most recent Improper Bostonian I had to go the website and look more closely - voila there were 6 of them! Perfect to dress up any little black dress...
...and how pretty would these Jonathan Adler dinner plates look on any table for Christmas dinner? I like the 'white on white' best - a little less dramatic, and also still good for everyday use.

Just a little Eye Candy

Well, pictures are coming in from the wedding so I'll get you all the details shrotly but in the mean time thought I'd hold you over with a little treat. My most recent jewelry obsession - Hoorsenbuhs available at Barney's. They've been around for a while but I just kind recently re-discovered them and saw some amazing pieces I hadn't seen before. Enjoy! Be back soon with more wedding fun.

And look who else loves Hoorsenbuhs....

The Birds and the Bees

I was discussing with my friend, Sohee, the other day how there are things we dislike in real life, but LOVE on clothes, jewelry, furniture, art, etc. Some perfect examples are; birds, bees, and horses. I won't bore you with why I dislike them in too much detail but birds have always creeped me out, obviously no one likes bees, and I have not liked horses since my mom made me take horse back riding at Camp Sequoya. However...put any of these things in a patter, on an earring, or in a frame? Love! I mean, what would Hermes be without horses?? Here are a few lovely examples of these not-so-lovely beings...

Extra wide enamel bracelet from Hermes

I bought this belt a couple years ago at JCrew and have worn it way more than I ever thought I would! It looks so cute with jeans and a tucked in button-up or even just a t-shirt.
I love this bird trivet from Terrain - I had to add it because I just saw it on DesignSponge today!

I saw this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag last weekend in NY and fell in love, it's so cute and fun...perfect weekend bag (only complaint, is there isn't a shorter-strap option)

These are all from Jonathan Adler's Acapulco line of patterned pillows and serveware - so cute!

I can't decide if these bee earrings from Antrhopologie are a little too preppy for me but I think they're adorable

Just adding the little bee to this basic glassware from Ballard Designs makes them so much cuter, and perfect for everyday

"Doorknockers"

Today at work I had to take my earring out to talk on the phone and got made fun of for being an old lady! It made me remember when I was little and my mom would take off her big "doorknocker" of a clip-on earring to talk on the phone and I thought it was like the epitome of being a grown up....(just to keep you up on my train of thought)...then I continued to think of all the huge earrings my mom used to have that were hot-glue-gunned pieces of fun. I remember one pair that had an old watch gear in it somewhere, and then it dawned on me...they're back! And now I find myself thinking of all the great attention-getting earrings I've been noticing and coveting as of late - especially after my sister gave me these awesome Indian-inspired green earrings last time I saw her (they were form ABC Home, so unfortunately I can't find a good picture of them but I'll take one next time I wear them!) . Anyway, here' s a little preview of a few I love right now...

Mystery of the Mojave earrings by Lizzie Fortunato (obviously!)

Jeweled garland earrings from JCrew

Vintage Chanel earrings from eBay
** for those of you in Boston, there is an amazing little vintage jewelry store with tons of stuff like these great Chanel earrigns on Charles St. in Beacon Hill, its called Twentieth Century Ltd**

Clip-on fan earrings from Badgley Mischka (available from Charm and Chain)

Large gold crystal ivy earrings from Alexis Bittar

Oh, Lizzie....

She's done it again! Not only is Lizzie Fortunato's fall/winter line amazing but she now has pieces available through Urban Outfitters - I'm so happy this trend of designers creating less expensive options is still popular, thank you Isaac Mizrahi. The line is called Hope Marian and not only are the pieces obviously unique and interesting but they are still very well made, despite the price reduction. You can see that the same care to detail and construction were taken and while they may not feature vintage African glass beads they will certainly serve my craving for a statement necklace from her for this fall. I also was told that she's done jewelry for the Sping and Fall 09 VPL fashion shows so checked it out on her website and sure enough not only is the collection fabulous but its available for purchase! So far I've only seen the bangles in person but they were enough to make me want to see it all.

Images via Urban Outfitters.

Layla, my love

So why not start off with something I've been obsessing over for months now. I visit her usually twice a week, sometimes I actually go in and try her on, other times I just walk by the window and stare longingly. Her name is Layla. This necklace is one of the most beautiful things to ever catch my eye and I've been trying to raise funds, rationalize, and talk myself into buying her but I just haven't gotten there yet. It's made by Lizzie Fortunato Jewels - a jewelry and accessory designer made up of 2 sisters; Elizabeth & Kathryn (another reason I love them, because my sister and I are also Elizabeth & Katherine) and I spotted her at Looc Boutiqe in Boston's South End. It's made with hand-knotted Liberty fabric, Amethyst, and glass beads - as if that's not enough it has a leather buckle for the closure in the back, I'm really a sucker for a nice leather buckle as it always reminds me of Hermes. Well, I certainly feel like this was a good start because I'm smiling now!

Image courtesy of Lizzie Fortunato Jewels (lizziefortunatojewels.com)