Sartorial Superlatives: The Best Of Rainboots

Chooka Window Wool. Zappos.com, $60.99. These are pull-ons so if you have a high in-step, they may not slip on easily.

Even though it seems completely absurd that I'm writing this in the middle of a major San Francisco Indian Summer, we all know that the Bay Area's Fall and Winter are just around the corner. Though we don't too often get snow, we do have a nasty wind chill that will surely freeze any tourist or unsuspecting townie right to their bone. And what's worse than the wind chill? Not much actually, except when the chill comes with a rainstorm. Talk about a gloomy day. Luckily, I happen to have an eye for all things fashion and decided to gift you dear readers with the best rainboots I could find. This way when you're out there puddle jumping your way through the town, you're feet stay warm and dry. Just remember to also bundle up!

Most Likely to Go with Everything

Best Print, For Grown-up Gals

Sperry Houndstooth, Zappos.com, $78

Best Print, for Young Gals

Gabriella Rocha "Soma", Zappos.com, $49

Best for Kids

Keds "Champion" bootie, Zappos.com, $65

Best Plaid, an alternative to the Most Likely to Go With Everything

LAUREN Ralph Lauren "Rossalyn II" boot, Zappos.com, $55.99

Best Heels

Gabriella Rocha "Duckee" boot, Zappos.com, $89

Best Bootie/ Best Splurge

Loeffler Randall "Rain Slip On" bootie, Zappos.com, $150

Image(s) courtesy of www.zappos.com

Wardrobe Update: August Shopping

Since August is the "last" month of the summer, excluding of course random Bay Area heat waves in October- now would be a great time to update your wardrobe and buy some new things. Long sleeve tops in knits and sweaters, cardigans, and in general layering pieces will help extend the life of your sleeveless items. Just a few layering pieces and you've got a great start to a Fall wardrobe.

Start off by getting yourself a fun coat-alternative option. This duster, which is essentially just a long cardigan,  looks great in the outfit pictured, but would also be a great tag-along to a maxi dress for when the months gradually cool.

Trouve Fringe Duster, Nordstrom, $58 (Anniversary Sale)

Make sure you gather lots of pull-over sweaters in both v-necks and crew-necks. Embellished necklines are very poplar this year. The good news is you have so many options available to how you choose to partake in this trend, one is bound to feel right. Some tops already come in a simple color with a beaded neckline so half the work is done for you! If you want to start from scratch, you can try layering a crew-neck sweater with a collared shirt underneath. If that doesn't sound appealing, try a turtleneck. And if that doesn't suit you, don't use a high-necked under shirt and instead skip it all together. Use a chunky necklace in it's place. See! Tons of options!

Bonus: If your sweater has an interesting print or pattern or texture, it will elevate your look that much more. Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nordstrom, $159.90 (Anniversary Sale)

Kate Spade necklace, Nordstrom, $118.90 (Anniversary Sale)

Easy, breezy dresses you wore all summer don't necessarily need to be packed up when the weather turns crisp. Fall-ify your dresses with a pair of tights, boots, and a jacket.

Stylist Warning: When your dress already has a print, don't over complicate your look by wearing a pair of tights with a texture or print. Keep it simple. Though you can still be playful by picking a color. Jessica Simpson dress, Nordstrom, $84.90 (Anniversary Sale)

Embrace color! Winter months are often dominated by bland neutrals so don't be afraid to kick-start your look with a burst of color. If these are too bright, then of course wear black. Nordstrom tights, Nordstrom, $6.90 (Anniversary Sale)

A classic lace-up bootie will pretty much go with EVERYTHING in your closet for Fall/ Seychelles "Fever Pitch" Booties, Nordstrom, $89.90 (Anniversary Sale)

A denim jacket is great go-to as the seasons transition. It's a neutral in it's own right because it's a classic but the blue adds a nice pop of color to any outfit. KUT from the Kloth denim jacket, Nordstrom, $69.00

The last few items you can start keeping an eye out for are thin undershirts, perfect for building your layers (and thus, warmth!). Scarves are also a great addition for color and fun, not to mention they're very insulating because the plug up any potential draft from a low neckline.

Hope you find these tips helpful and inspiring enough to get you out to the stores, shopping!

Image(s) courtesy of www.nordstrom.com

Mad Men Style Sweeps the Nation: Are you a Betty or a Joan? A Pete or a Don?

With the 4th season of AMC's hit TV show Mad Men airing soon, they're doing a recap of all of the previous episodes to catch people up.  It's one of those shows my husband and I were never interested in until everyone starting raving about it, then we never started because we were behind.  Even if the show turned out to be crap (which it isn't), I would have loved it anyway due to the set and costume designs.

Now I've officially jumped on the Mad Men bandwagon.  (1) In my house- mid century modern is the one design style my husband and I can agree upon- and (2) in my closet because my curves love 1940-1950's era styles.  And I know I'm not the only one....

Banana Republic is showing their love by releasing a limited edition Mad Men collection in time for the fall season.  August 11th at 6:00PM (in select stores) you can shop the collection and drink a free "Mad-tini".  Receive a gift with purchase if you use your Banana Republic card.

Guys, they didn't forget about you...  "Are you MAD enough?"


Want something a little more literal?  Check out this Etsy shop for curvaceous creations that look like they came straight out of the show.

Image(s) courtesy of Google search. Quote from Banana Republic marketing.

Sarah Jessica Parker is a Burberry Delight

I think Sarah Jessica Parker cemented her claim to fame as a style icon thanks in large part to her collaboration with Patricia Fields on Sex and the City. Every time I watch it, there’s some small, new detail there that I never noticed before. So many odd, amazing, and fabulous clothing combinations that it’s no wonder we all still turn to the show for inspiration. Even today on the red carpet, SJP takes a cue from Carrie and adds an over-sized accessory here, or an unexpected color and texture there. Like most icons, when she attends an event, you can bet people will be watching. She didn’t disappoint at the Burberry show this past September.

SJP's look was a decadent tone on tone ensemble; a rich gradient of caramel, chocolate, and cream. Who better to get you're mouth watering for fabulous Fall fashion? The entire look is the coupling of contrasting textures and themes. The ladylike lace of the dress (yes, that's a dress under there) with its cascading ruffles is juxtaposed against the smooth leather, military jacket with the high, strapping heels of her shoes leaving me fit to be tied. If you're hungry to satisfy your chocolate craving, check out the images below. They're the best options available on the market right now.

"Victoriana" jacket at asos.com

The jacket Sarah Jessica is wearing is absolutely labelled as a splurge. After all it is a Burberry jacket! If you want the real thing now but from a more greenback-friendly source, try this one. The color is lovely and the military style is marvelous.

A dress purchased in Madrid by London-based social fixture Jane Asher

This sweet shift embodies a woman's girly-girl but is controlled by the simple design. It's a perfect piece to contrast with the leather jacket. Try locating your own at your favorite department store or boutique.

"Colleen" Satchel at Shop Suey

This bag's shape is very similar to the one SJP is holding, plus the style lines are pretty good mimics of the original. It's a great steal when you can't afford the splurge.

Never underestimate the authority of sassy heels. Nordstrom

To help complete this SJP-inspired look and to carry you into colder days, add a few more accessories like gloves and a scarf. To keep your legs warm, pull on a pair of sheer black tights. You could also choose opaque tights but that's where you have to ask yourself one question: WWCD? (What Would Carrie Do?)

Image(s) courtesy of Google image search

How To Tie A Sash: My obsession with the obi waist belt

Nothing adds outfit impact like the prefect waist belt.  You can belt dresses, tunics, over sweaters, under sweaters, and the list goes on and on.  I love the look, and there are so many styles to choose from.  Personally, I've been on the hunt for the perfect obi sash style belt for this fall.

When on the hunt for unique items, one of the places I always check first is Etsy.com.  Top of the search list, I found one seller, nanafosu, with this super cool leather version.

This Etsy store not only sells these cool belts in various colors, all leather, but they also post great examples of how to tie them.  I am buying this one ASAP, and figured the pictures were worth passing along to you guys.

This is going to look so cute with my new boots I purchased at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale!

Image(s) courtesy of Etsy seller nanafosu

Wardrobe Inspiration: David Beckham

Who's wardrobe inspires your style?

David Beckham looking not only sexy, but quite stylish.

Image(s) courtesy of Shrimpton Couture and Google images search

Memoirs of my morning at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale

waiting with at least 50 other women for the elevators to open

My amazing friend Lindsey gets me up at 5:45 every year to get coffee and gear up for the doors to open at Nordstrom Westfield Centre.  7am hits and we are first into the elevators.  With quiet anticipation, the very full elevator explodes onto the sales floor and spills forth into the shoes...

The damage done in the shoe department (my CC is starting to smoke already)

With the game plan in play and shopping lists in hand, we head from shoes up to the clothes.  Using the circled and dog-eared preview catalog as my compass, I glide through the clothing racks (dodging the other shoppers) searching for the perfect tops on sale to wear with my jeggings.

My morning hair and yoga clothes (hey, it was 7am at THE MALL!)

After bogarting the fitting room for over 30 minutes (exiting to glares from the ladies in line), I end this early morning madness with a final stop in the lingerie department.  I'm bummed to find out that, along with my waistline, my boobs are growing as well.  So I take this opportunity to try on larger bras (on sale for under $40!) to wear with the shapewear now practically required with every outfit.

Surprisingly, once I get home and walked through the door with my many bags, the first thing I can't wait to try on again are the over the knee socks I picked up last-minute.  After giving it all the once-over in my own mirror (why do clothes sometimes look different on you once you're home?) I am satisfied that I only need to return one item; the flats that made it into my bag in the wrong color.

If you listen really carefully, you can still hear my credit cards crying out for help!

Men's Fashion: Wardrobe Inspiration

One of the blogs I like to follow is TrendyCrew, that spotlights street fashion.  I love seeing what "everyday people"- people not in the fashion industry- are wearing.  I find inspiration for my own outfits while perusing the web, and suggest my clients do the same.  Do you have a fashion icon?

streets of Paris

So guys, what do you think of his outfit?  Is this something you would wear?  What do you think of his brown shoes with this outfit?

Image(s) courtesy of http://trendycrew.com/street-fashion/tim-paris/

I'm ready for fall fashions and leopard prints. Are you?

Yeah for Topshop and their American shipping!

YES YES YES

Just as the weather is heating up here in northern California, all of the ads for the cool autumn winter clothes are coming out.  Not that I'm ready for the cool weather (my skin is just now starting to turn gold in the sun), I just LOVE fall fashion!!!!

Image(s) courtesy of Shopbop, Solestruck

The Ten Worst Fall Fashions - from DivineCaroline

Here is an interesting article I found in one of the many blogs that I follow. It addresses some of this season's top trends (acid washed jeans cutouts, shoulder pads, stirrup pants), and why they might be big NO NO's.

The Ten Worst Fall Fashions - Page 4 - DivineCaroline

While I don't agree with their assessment of all of these trends, it makes some good points. Especially the fact that most of these trends are not appropriate for the work place... Enjoy!

Image courtesy of Divine Caroline

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day- Period Piece Showcases Current Fall Fashions?

I watched Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day while blogging on my couch last week.  It wasn't so much the story that had me captivated, it was the fashions!  Take this dressing gown/robe (see left). I am not a huge fan of pink on myself, but don't those maribu feathers make you want to glam up your boudoir ASAP?  Add pair of kitten heeled slippers (wouldn't my downstairs neighbors love that) and I'd be set.

What amazes me the most is how some of the current fall trends came from this war-time era.  I'm looking forward to femininity and luxe being back in style.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, you really should.  It's not a period piece of Titanic proportions, but a fun film with plenty of pleasing fashion to look at.  Check it out on IMDB.










Images courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/