Big Apple Love

{As Promised}

So two weekends ago, I went here:

You might find it bit odd that I would go to NYC right after a blizzard, but if you really know me, you'd know that it's not odd at all. I love this city.

It wasn't nearly as cold as it looks. In fact, thanks to some awesome rain boots we bought at Tertorn in SoHo and these amazing fur hats, we were totally toasty.

Here's a look at our trip:

Red Velvet + Dulce de Leche {Crumbs}

CP ♥

Purl Soho {love this place}

Washington Square {The Village}

Park Ave. {flowers} | Bryant Park {snowmen}

Tretorn saved our lives! {and our feet}

Do as ze Russians do.

CP

SoHo

Hello, Kate Spade.


The Rug Company | SoHo



Ze Pod.


{taxicab yellow} the accent color of the city

When is it not a good time for white??

We all know the line. "You shouldn't wear white after labor day!"Fifty points to whoever knows what movie that comes from.

Well it's October 7. And I'm wearing white. White jeans to be exact, with a navy and hunter green plaid frou-frou collar blouse, camel cardigan with gold and ivory buttons, a gold cuff, simple gold earings, and gold sandals (it's Charleston...sandals are good for at least another month).

I would have thought that this "rule" would have been deemed outdated a while ago, but given a few looks I've been given this morning, I'd like to take a moment to address wearing white in the cooler months.

You can do it!! Of course it should be done with care, as all style really should be, and there are definite no-no's, but I'm here to tell you that it's ok to keep your white jeans out of whatever receptacle you store your polka-dot sundresses and bikinis in for just a little longer.

I would say more on the subject, but I think in this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words, so please refer to the exhibits below for confirmation that the white after labor day rule is about as antiquated as the rabbit pregnancy test. And if you don't know what that is...maybe you should google it...

For more chit-chat about these lovely looks, check out the following blogs:

Batch! Please
Style Blueprint
Fashion Under $100
Wall Street Journal | Fashion
The Style Blogger {{particularly delicious}}

Double-Cloth Lady Day Coat in Sea Salt, Men's Vintage Slim Fit Jean in Wheat Garment Dye from J.Crew {obviously}

Hello, Autumn!

The official first day has passed, but it's just starting to feel like fall. Mornings are crisp, days are overcast, and we've actually been getting a lot of rain here in the lowcountry. I'm not complaining though, because this is what the weather looks like next week:

So looking forward to it.

So with little whims of autumn creeping in all around, I can't help but be inspired. Here are some of my favorite fall things....

{click image to see stuff in all it's splendor}

All of this eye candy makes me want to go outside take in a deep breath of crisp air, and jump into a pile of leaves- of course while staying cozy in that black and white wool cape or that rust-colored silk-cashmere wrap. I am so ready for some Wellies and oyster roasts and toasty red wine and cuddling up with a good book on an overcast day. The Gardiner Heist is one I'm really looking forward to. And speaking of cuddling up, I could really use a pair of those sock slippers. And that Fire Side Wood Wick candle, and those maple marshmallows...and...all of it!!!

Oh fall, I'm so glad you've made it. You're just in time.

From top left:

• Vintage Herringbone Pillow High Street Market (etsy store)
• Continuum: Music by John Mayer Amazon.com
• Gold Stackable Rings Stella & Dot
• Passion Flower Plate Crate & Barrel
  
• East Hampton Cottage Flannel Shirt Shopruche.com
• Natural Draw-String Sweat Shirt Gap {no link available}
• Sam Adams Octoberfest Beer
• Decorative Pumpkins and Gourds (set of five) Pottery Barn
  
• Snow Leopard Cocoon Cardi-Cape Leilanni (etsy store)
• Warm Slipper Socks Forever 21
• "I Love!" Copper Notebook Oh Joy!
  
• Heritage Badge Mug Starbucks
  
• The Gardener Heist by Ulrich Boser Amazon.com
  
• Facetted Jewel Necklace Forever 21
• Nail Color in Velvet Voyer Essie
• Frilly Sweater in Oatmeal Shopruche.com {out of stock}]
• WoodWick 10 oz. Candle in Fireside Wood Wick
  
• Studded Leather Wrap Bracelets Lori's
  
• Sculptural Birds Pottery Barn
  
• Weathered Leather Boots Forever 21 {yes...F21. I didn't believe it either. Please don't let them sell out, please don't let them sell out!}
• Beauty Basics Scarves in Olive, Dusty Pink, and Eggplant Shopruche.com
• Trasforming Wool Cape Lex M (etsy store)
• Pumpkin Ginger Sandwich Cookies and Brown Sugar Ginger Spice Cookies Whimsey & Spice
  
• Fuzzy Plaid Scarf Forever 21
• Gray Pearl Cocktail Ring Ann Taylor
  
• Maple Marshmallows Whimsy & Spice
  
• The Emerson Clutch EmersonMade
  
• Silk Posy Tee in Moroccan Spice, Jeweled Dream Cardigan in Rope, and Refined Silk-Cashmere Wrap in Vintage Rosewood J.Crew
• Gossip in the Grain: Ray Lamontagne Amazon.com
  
• BDG Sholder-Stripe Cardigan Urban Outfitters
• Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Creamer International Delight
  
• Women's Pelican Tall Boot Lug in Tan Plaid Sperry Top-Sider
  
• Escudo Rojo Chilean Bordeaux Blend

Into the Wild

I'm not usually given to garishness. My wardrobe consists of a lot gray, white and black. I'd say all and all, I'm pretty monochromatic with punches of color here and there. To me, you make more of a statement with subtlety because people are actually more prone to notice a gold belt or coral cuff when it's up against a canvas that actually allows it make a statement, rather than getting bogged down in with over accessorization or patterns that should just be a statement themselves.

So I'd like to acknowledge the latter of the two- patterns that should just a be a statement themselves.

Animal print hasn't always been my thing. But this fall, I'm finding myself really drawn to it. Especially in softer colors that we all know those animals don't really come in (grays, pastels, plum).

If you really look at it, animal print is nothing more than an unconventional pattern of neutrals, that when done correctly, is so Fifth Avenue and so not Jersey Shore.


Now, I'm definitely not advocating over doing it (which can be easily done).

I think sticking with one jungle cat inspired item per outfit is all you need.

I've had this thought before, and I think this just proves it to be true- God is truly the king of couture. I wonder what His muse was when creating such haute patterns.

General Sadness

I'm beginning to think that the internet is just one big, cruel joke.

Ok. Not the whole internet. Just the shopping part. Before online shopping, one could avoid the glitzy temptation of things one could not afford because one would simply go to Target rather than Bloomingdale's (I don't even know if Target was around in the olden days of no internet, but you get my point).

But times have changed. And now, with one bittersweet click of a mouse, one can be barraged with a plethora of cruelties. Cruelties so beautiful, so elegant, so perfectly matching what one was looking for, that one cannot turn away.

If one is picky (like me) one will scour for exactly what one wants. And when one finds it, one is often flung into the bowels of despair when one realizes that a simple click of the "check out button," a task menial in theory, but generally impossible according reason, is not so simple after all.

To demonstrate my point, I presented exhibit A, the tragically overpriced-priced Pottery Barn project table, that is of course the only white project table on the market.

And now dear friends, observe exhibit B:


No, in the grand scheme of things $175 isn't a fortune, but for wellies that may only be worn three times a year??

So disparaging, internet. So disparaging.

Google needs to come up with a poor-people-only-shopping search.

That is all.