Monday, December 27, 2010

Shop This Place: Bryna

Bryna is a San Francisco-based accessories label.  Bryna's bags are AWESOME.  They aren't cheap, but they aren't over-priced, either.  And they do get marked down.  The bags are unique, fun, and- dare I say it?- edgy designs worth checking out. And the prices seem justified given the apparent craftsmanship and amazing materials used (hello, lambskin and stingray). 

Here are some of my favorites:

Harlow ($225, marked down from $320):

Bay Bag ($105):

Mason ($165, marked down from $280)

Handbag of the Day: Varennes Clutch


This is the Varennes Clutch, at shopbryna.com.  It's marked down to $135 (from $195), and comes in 5 colors.  It's a gorgeous bag, and while it's pricey for something so small, it's also something that could take you from day to night and through all seasons.  It has a removable strap, which adds to its versatility.  I love this little bag and think it would make a good holiday gift to your self, if you received some extra cash this year...

Outfits of the Day: Dressember 24, 26, 27



Outfit Details: Dress: Old Navy; Ring: Kate Spade; (brown) Tights: DKNY; Boots: bought in Amsterdam

This was my Christmas Eve look.  The dress is pretty short but loose, so I could eat, drink, and be merry without feeling constricted.

Dress it up: add smart jacket and statement necklace, switch boots for heels

Dress it down: switch boots for ballet flats or oxfords, lose the ring, throw on a cardi



Outfit Details: Dress: She-Bible; (olive) Tee: Banana Republic; Flats: Target; (owl) Necklace: Stella and Dot (find it here)

Dress it up: switch tee for black or brown cami, switch flats for wedge heels, add leather jacket

Dress it down: this is pretty damn casual already



Outfit Details: Dress: Anthropologie; (deep aqua) Tee: Calson at Nordstrom; Tights: DKNY; Boots: bought in Amsterdam; Ring: Kate Spade (find it here, still available in several colors)

I love this dress because it looks like a blouse tucked into a skirt with all the convenience of a dress.  And it has pockets.  Not thrilled with how my layering turned out, but it's cold so I had to layer over or under it and the aqua tee picked up the blue in the pattern perfectly.

Dress it up: lose the tee, add long pendant necklace, switch boots for heels

Dress it down: switch boots for flats, throw on leather jacket

Friday, December 24, 2010

A Call To Arms

There are certain sites that are going to try to convince you that the scrunchie is making a comeback.

It's not happening. 

If you are still wearing a scrunchie, for the love of people with eyes, give it up.  If you need to pull your hair back, that's why God Goody invented hair bands. And why barrettes, bobby pins, and headbands exist. 

Sure, you might see the occasional scrunchie on Gossip Girl or some other WB hideousness show.  School Girl Prep does seem to lend itself to scrunchies and penny loafers.  But seeing Blair Waldorf wear someone does not a great style make.  It's a COSTUME, people.  So it's supposed to be a little over the top, perhaps?

Thank you, likes of American Apparel, for confirming what I already know: if it's marketed to hipsters, I don't want any.

I don't give a damn if the things are made from the hair of unicorns and held together by the tears of virgins, they're hideous, dated, and unacceptable on girls or women of any age.

Scrunchies are the scourge of our nation and I will not rest until every last one has been eradicated from the planet.  Who's with me?

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

What's the Diff? Shoe Edition


This is the Ring in the New Year Heel.  They are $89.99 at ModCloth.


This is the Raines Heel.  They were $69.95, marked down from $128, at Anthropologie, and are sold out as of today.

These are actually the same shoe, with a couple of minor differences. They are both from Seychelles and both feature the same cross-over detail and contrasting colors.  The ModCloth version has a black heel and what looks like metallic leather, while the Anthro version has a brown heel and all brown leather.

I prefer the Anthro version and had these on my wishlist.  Since I've missed out on them, the ModCloth version would be a great alternative, though I find metallic leather hit or miss in the looking cheap department.  Do you have a preference?

Outfit of the Day: Dressember 21


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic; Tee: Calson at Nordstrom; Belt: Express; Ring: Anthro; Tights: probably Nordstrom; Boots: bought in Amsterdam

Dress it up: Lose the tee underneath, switch boots for heels

Dress it down:  Switch flats for boots, add leather jacket

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Handbag of the Day: Shopping Tote


This is the Kate Spade Daycation Bon Shopper.  It's $145.  When Kate Spade came out with this sandpiper line, I fell in love.  So, I may or may not have snatched up this tote to use on rainy weekends.  It's perfect for carrying around everything I need, including my full sized umbrella.  It's cheerful and cute, without feeling cutesy.  And it fits over my shoulder when I'm wearing a jacket, which is a requirement for all fall & winter bags for me. This bag will also transition nicely into spring.

Obviously, I love the whole line- there's a pouch, a ($265!) blouse, jewelry.  But I limited myself to the bag.  Oh, and the bangle.  But that's it, I swear. 

Weekend Outfits of The Day: Dressember 18 & 19


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic (hello, 40% sale!); Belt: Nordstrom; (sparkly grey) Tights: Banana; Boots (which we are all sick of seeing): London Fog

Dress it up: switch boots for heels; add jacket & statement necklace

Dress it down: this is pretty damn casual.  Flats instead of boots?


Outfit Details: Dress: local boutique find; (heavy ribbed) Tights: probably Nordstrom; Boots: bought in Amsterdam

I tolerate very little kitsch for others and almost none for myself.  This dress is one of the very few pieces I own that are truly cute.  It has a forest scene, complete with birds and deer.  My advice: the best way to wear something like it is to keep everything else neutral and simple.  Hence, no jewelry, despite my urge to add a bird necklace or a flower cocktail ring.

Dress it up: not gonna happen

Dress it down: lose the tights and boots, add simple flats

Friday, December 17, 2010

More bird print, anyone?


This is the Sing Sweetly Party Dress.  It has a bird print. It has a contrasting sash.  It has pockets.

Obviously, it's now on my wish list.

Outfit of the Day: Dressember 17


Outfit Details: Dress: Velvet at Anthropologie; Boots: London Fog; (brown) Tights: DKNY; Necklace: J Crew

Clearly a bad hair day...

Dress it up: switch boots for heels

Dress it down: lose the necklace; layer long-sleeved tee underneath

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Handbag of the Day: Bird Cage Frame Purse


This Lulu Guinness Bird Cage Frame Purse is tiny and costs $94.82 at ASOS.  But it's embroidered! And is made of silk satin! And has red lining!

So, yeah, I want it.

Printastic! Bird print, revisited

There's a whole new flock (see what I did there?) of bird prints available right now.

Owl or Nothing Dress:


Tweet on You Dress:


Bird Top:


Pepe Jeans Bird Print Blouse:


Jersey Sweat Dress:


Three guesses about what I think of this...thing.

And now for something completely different: a 50's Birdcage Duvet Cover:


This one is pretty damn cool.

Outfits of the Day: Dressember 14, 15, 16

Over the hump- Dressember is half over.


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic; (sparkly) Belt: Banana Republic; (snake print) Shoes: Ruby & Bloom

I actually wore two dresses that day, but need to find a pic of the one I wore that night, on stage.

Dress it up: add heels, cocktail ring, statement necklace

Dress it down: switch belt out for something plainer, or lose it entirely


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic; (lavender) Cami: Banana Republic; (pink flower) Cocktail Ring: Anthropologie; Tights: DKNY; Boots: Cole Haan

Today was the day I realized I own A LOT of Banana Republic dresses.  So I bought a few new ones at Anthro.

Also, I was supposed to get a mid-air pic of me jumping, since it's half-way through Dressember, but that didn't happen.

Dress it up: remove cami, add statement necklace

Dress it down: throw leather jacket over it


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic; Cami: Banana Republic; (chevron ribbed) Tights: DKNY; Flats: Burberry; (bird) Necklace: awesome craft show find; (black & white) Ring: another craft show find

I don't actually like wearing all black and white, so I tried to add something with the necklace, which is actually a deep green and black.  The whole ensemble looked way better with my green winter coat. Today just wasn't a creative day for me.

Dress it up: add heels and bolder jewelry

Dress it down: remove tights, add leather jacket

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Office Party: Get a Damn Clue


My BF's husband works for a prestigious company.  Believe me, you know the company.  This company has the cash to throw lavish holiday parties.  This year's party was held at a local museum and attire was semi formal. Naturally my BF wore a nice dress and her husband wore a suit.

And yet, there were douche bags who wore jeans. And birkenstocks.

Those douche bags' first excuse, according to my BF?  They're computer geeks who don't pay attention to things like dress codes and appropriate attire.  Actually, the phrase she used was "their heads are so far up their butts they don't know how to procure a suit."

The other excuse?  "It's primarily men. Which makes a difference in the values."

Oh, hell no.

Here's what I have to say about this:

1.  Being a geek doesn't give you license to be an asshole.

And wearing jeans to the semi formal office party makes you an asshole. 

I don't give a rats arse what you wear at your own holiday parties.  (Actually, I do, but that's an entirely different post.)  But this is a work function.  Just like you don't want to be the one swinging from the chandelier at the end of the night because you can't hold your peppermint schnapps, you don't want to be the one who looks like they don't respect the company or its effort to throw you a party by dressing down.

Being an adult on this planet means you are responsible for your behavoir, no matter what your job is.  And no one who doesn't live in a cave doesn't know where or how to buy/rent/borrow/obtain clothes.

People! You don't get to use your industry as an excuse for inappropriateness or just plain rudeness.  And techie or not, once you are an adult, it's no longer charming or acceptable to just not care. 

2.  Having a penis doesn't give you an all-expenses paid vacation from Adulthood.

Grow the eff up.  Dudes have been getting away with that shit for far too long.  And it's revolting that people just let them- or worse, enable them.

Man or woman, you are a GROWN UP.  So act like one. 

Don't want to dress up?  Don't go.

Some Outfits of the Day: Dressember 7, 9 & 13

So, I wore two dresses on December 8, but didn't get a pic of either.  And I fell off the wagon Friday through Sunday because I was traveling to and from Montana.  I blame the combo of early morning air travel and freezing temps.


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic; Tee: Banana Republic; Tights: DKNY; Flats: Burberry; Necklace with locket: Banana Republic

Dress it up: lose the tee, add smart jacket, switch flats for heels

Dress it down: lose the necklace, add stretchy belt


Yeah, yeah, it's a skirt, not a dress. At least I got the damn picture.

Outfit Details: Tee: Banana Republic; Skirt: Banana Republic; Scarf: ModCloth; Tights: DKNY; Heels: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Dress it up: switch scarf for statement necklace; add sparkly heels

Dress it down: add leather jacket, switch heels for flats



Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic (but this is navy instead of black, I swear!); Cardigan: Anthropologie; Tights: The Limited; Boots: bought in Amsterdam

Dress it up: change cardi for jacket; change boots for heels

Dress it down: add flat, slouchy boots

Monday, December 6, 2010

Outfit of the Day: Dressember 6


Outfit Details: Dress: Banana Republic; Cami: Calson from Nordstrom; Tights: DKNY; Shoes: Paolo; Belt: Banana Republic

The pics are still pretty arse, because we haven't found good lighting or a good camera.  I'm certain it has nothing to do with the half-awake photog.

Dress it up: add sparkly statement necklace and cuff

Dress it down: switch heels for flats, add brighter cami

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Handbag of the Day: Leather Tote


For $98, this is a fantastic leather tote.  It comes in 7 colors (I'm partial to the pink one shown, and the purple, called "viola") and it folds flat for easy storage, making it a great addition to your suitcase when you travel and will need a tote for day or some extra space for your souvenirs. 

Outfits of the Weekend: Dressember 4 & 5

Turns out wearing dresses on the weekend in crap-tastic weather is way harder than dressing up for work, where it's expected.  Both mornings I woke up, reached for jeans, and then stuffed them back into the drawer when I remembered it was still a dress day. 

I'm thinking I'm going to run out of weekend dress outfits way before weekday ones, so you'll probably see some variations on the same theme in the upcoming weekends.  I might have one or two more to sneak into the Sat/Sun rotation, though...


Outfit Details: Dress: Ella Moss; Tee: Calson from Nordstrom; Tights: DKNY; Rain Boots: London Fog; Ring: Banana Republic (diff Banana rings each day, I swear!)

This was for brunch with S, seeing a movie, and dinner with friends

Dress it up: switch out boots for nicer shoes

Dress it down: seriously, this is pretty damn casual



Outfit Details: Dress: She-bible; Tee: Banana Republic; Tights: DKNY; Rain Boots: London Fog

This was for a studio band practice (where anything besides jeans is typically met with stares) and hanging out at home, watching football

Dress it up: switch out boots for nicer shoes, add jewelry

Dress it down: um, yeah, this is as casual as it gets

Shop This Place: Pinup Girl Clothing

This isn't strictly a new find for me, but I think it's the first time I've written about Pinup Girl Clothing.  I have never ordered from the site, but a recent (green) dress worn by Forever Amber sent me straight back to it, and I'm now considering a couple of LBDs. 

Most pieces are retro and cute, some are super sexy, and they all seem pretty well-priced. There's some rockabilly kitsch thrown in, too.

Here's what I like right now:

Birdie Party Dress: $118



Joanie Dress: $96


Annalise Swing Dress with sparrow detail: $122

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Outfits of The Day(s): Dressember 2 & 3


Outfit details: Dress: Thee Dots; Shoes: Seychelles; Tights: DKNY; Ring: Banana Republic; Bird Necklace: random find at nail salon

I love red with brown and gold!

Dress it up: add higher, dressier heels & bigger, sparklier jewelry

Dress it down: flats boots & add a cardigan


Outfit Details: Dress: Anthropologie; Belt: Nordstrom; Shoes: Pink; Tights: DKNY; Ring (can't see it, I know; it's orange and art deco-y): Banana Republic

Dress it up: add higher, dressier heels and switch out leather belt for something patent

Dress it down: add flats and lose the belt entirely

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Um, Hell No



Teva heels.  There really isn't anything else to say, right?  Didn't think so.

Outfit of The Day: Dressember 1


Outfit details: Dress: Anthropologie; Boots: Italy; Tights: DKNY; Cocktail Ring: House of Harlow; Leaf (Feather?) Necklace: trunk show years ago

Dress it up: swap boots for sharp heels, amp up the jewelry

Dress it down: lose the necklace, layer several leather bracelets

Shop This Place: Francesca's Collections

I learned about Francesca's Collections at Fashion Under $100.

The site has a ton of super trendy and inexpensive pieces.  Here are my favorites:

These grey Dancing at Dawn flats are $38 and also come in black:


This Never a Dull Moment clutch is $34, and also comes in pewter:


This Just Dreamy tunic is $34, looks comfy and flattering, and also comes in black: