april showers

Wow! How creative, New York! You've given us another nice and gray, rainy day.

Photo: WhatDidYouExpectDarling

Now don't get me wrong, I love the rain--but only under two conditions. 1. It's warm weather and the sun is still shining even though it's raining. OR 2. It's cold and gray and I have the luxury of staying curled up by a fire, warm and dry, inside all day. Since things don't seem to be going in either of those directions lately, here is an April Showers Survival Guide to get you through the wet-weather-wardrobe season. Just because the weather is dull doesn't mean your outfit has to be too! ;)

I've always had qualms with outerwear. I feel like it can so easily muddle up your perfectly selected outfit, especially when it comes to rain gear. These jackets are functional and fun so you won't have to cringe as you put on your old, puffy, might-as-well-be-a-trash-bag slicker. 

From top left, clockwise: Yellow Pac-A-Parka, Topshop; Burberry Mint Green Pack-Away Parka, Net-A-Porter; River Island Leopard Trench Coat, ASOS; Jones and Jones Pink Paris Trench Coat, Topshop; Mackage Short Zip Rain Coat, Bloomingdale's

Sure, anyone can buy a pair of Hunter rain boots and call it a day. (Not that I don't adore my Hunters.) But let's get slightly more original.

From top left, clockwise: Loeffler Randall Lace-Up Rain Ankle Boots, Saks Fifth Avenue; UGG Australia Belcloud Rain Boots, Bloomingdale's; Tommy Hilfiger Women's Canaan Rain Boot, DSW; Sperry Top-Sider Cormorant Rubber Slip-Ons, J. Crew; Sperry Top-Sider Hingham Rain Boots, Nordstrom; Tangerine April Showers Rain Loafers, Ruche; BCBG Max Azria Willis Rain Boots, Heels.com

Here are a few cute, little, rainy-day pieces, just for fun. A hat is always a good idea when it's raining out, particularly for the purposes of covering up the crazy hair the weather is giving you. This tote bag is especially cool because it's a PVC-covered cotton, so it has a shiny, plastic-y finish and it won't get ruined if it gets wet!

From left: Gray Wool Floppy Hat, American Apparel; Navy Cath Kidston Spot Rain Hat, ASOS; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Dress, Bergdorf Goodman; Wear the Rainbow Hair Clip, Modcloth; Antipast Silver Bee in the Rain High Socks, Bird; Antipast White Bee in the Rain Socks, Bird; Bottega Veneta Blue Ombre Cashmere and Silk-Blend Scarf, Net-A-Porter; DKNY Aqua Metallic Raindrop Cap-Sleeve Tie Blouse, My-Wardrobe.com; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Side-Zip Capris, Saks Fifth Avenue; Pastel Prism 'What Color Is It?' Watch, Modcloth; English Rose Cath Kidston Carry-All Bag, ASOS

Of course, no rainy day can be weathered without an umbrella.

From top, left to right: Blue Sky Printed Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Dusty Pink Bunny-Print Crook-Handle Umbrella, Topshop; Black and Cream Striped Umbrella, Kate Spade; Red Hearts Umbrella, Moschino Cheap and Chic; Marc by Marc Jacobs Jumbled Birds Umbrella, Net-A-Porter; Neon Geometric-Print David David Blocker Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; English Rose Tiny Umbrella, Cath Kidston; Blue Geometric Print David David Carousel Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; Burberry Regent Double Umbrella, Bloomingdale's; Orange Regimental Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York; Clear Purple Bubble Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Yellow Vintage Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York

There is no morning too busy or rushed to stop and throw on a ring or two... or three. And a pair of earrings, naturally.

Sterling Silver Raindrop Ring, LuttrellStudio on Etsy; Umbrella Ring, PaperBiscuit on Etsy; Cloud Ring with Brass Drop, luckyduct on Etsy; Acrylic Sun and Cloud Rings, CupOfSea on Etsy; Sleepy Raincloud Ring, KimberlyDanielle on Etsy; Sterling Silver and Copper Spring Showers Ring, MintyFreshStudio; Gold April Showers Adjustable Ring, eelizabeth on Etsy; Rainbow Charm Ring, CsCharms on Etsy

Vintage Blue Canary Green Umbrella Earrings, Steven Alan; Happy Cloud Earrings, Cute-Plush; Partly Sunny/Partly Cloudy Earrings, LivCreatively on Etsy; She Draws Umbrella Earrings, Hannah Zakari; Air Elements of Nature Necklace, Modcloth; Alassin Sane Necklace, Modcloth; In the Name of Love Necklace, Modcloth; Sad Storm Cloud Necklace, Cute-Plush; Little April Shower Necklace, loubijoux on Etsy; Carrie Saxl Cloud and Star Pendant Necklace, Max & Chloe; Wooden Umbrella Girl Necklace, Stolen Thunder Boutique; A Bracelet For a Rainy Day, RMichelle on Etsy; Rain on a Sunny Day Necklace and Earring Set, robyny83 on Etsy

So hopefully these April showers...

Photos: oO-Rein-Oo 

will bring some May flowers.

Photos: Goodmorning&Goodnight; Studded Hearts

And soon!



-S.

Daily Dress Up

Photo: Living a Better Life

I went to take Delilah out this morning, fearful that the gusty gale I'd heard rattling the windows all morning would sweep us up and away as easily as it did the dried and brittle maple leaves that darted around helplessly in it's whirlwind of fury. As I creaked opened the back door prepared for the inevitable icy blast to whip through my clothes and burn inside my nose, I was thrown off guard by the moderately cool air that playfully kissed my cheeks. The curls of wind invited me out onto the deck and the ferocious movement of the branches I had previously seen as violence revealed itself instead as cheerful dancing. I must say, I have mixed emotions about this kind of gentle climate still showing up in November. There's no way it could snow in with temperatures like these, and I am so desperate for a white holiday season! On the other hand, the moment it snows I will have to figure out an alternative method of transportation as my itty-bitty convertible Nissan 350Z is slightly more sunshine and speed than blizzards and black ice. Not to mention that it's fairly hard to complain when the weather permits you to step outside in cute outfits without the eskimo factor.

I finally have all my clothes and shoes put away as of today... or so I thought. Several boxes of my winter-wear and nicest shoes have vanished under my mother's watch. She claims to remember boxing them up when my parents cleaned up the house and put it on the market this past summer. A whole slew of things went into storage. This was allegedly where I would find my things. Not so. Thus, the search continues for the boxes that contain my super-luxe black cashmere cowl-neck sweater and my chalky brown suede fold-over cuff booties. I should establish a reward for their recovery! Perhaps that might incite little more urgency into the attention of the search party... Good news though! Though my precious treasure chest of apparel is missing in action, I did stumble upon my grandmother's vintage fur stole in one of the wardrobe boxes marked "Dress-ups." Hah! Dress-ups! Please, this puppy is meant to be worn in the real world. Don't you agree? 

For now though I am making do with the clothes I have and the weather I am given. A basic black bandage skirt (ok maybe not SO basic, the high waist and the ruffled texture add a little extra) paired with a loose and open-knit thin sweater is an easy ensemble that effectively toes the line between dressy chic and casual. I added a pair of sheer black pantyhose and my black American Apparel thigh-high socks to warm up my extra long leggies. My oxford-style booties are from Buffalo Exchange in Austin. They have a small hidden platform underneath the ball of my foot so they're much more comfortable to walk in than they look. The finishing touches to any outfit I put on usually come from a last minute stroll through my mother or sister's room. In this case, I stole my sister's nubby charcoal gray boyfriend blazer and snagged a vintage gold medallion tassel necklace out of my mom's jewelry stand. The chunky pink cocktail ring is my own, however, and hails from my beloved fashion heaven: Forever 21. 

Friends start coming home soon! I cannot wait! I have had way too much parental company and far too few margaritas to cope with it lately. Someone come rescue me! 

-S.

Click below for more snapshots...

Layered Confections

This week has produced some of the first genuinely cold days here in Austin. Maybe it's the start of November that has caused Texas to finally accept and acknowledge that autumn is here, or maybe it was the thunderstorms we had in the beginning of the week. Either way, I have busted out the black tights, the cozy jackets and toasty scarves to block the chill from my brittle bones. Personally, I welcome the colder weather. By the time summer is over I am dreadfully tired of cut off shorts and sandals and the craving for layers of luscious knits has planted itself firmly in my mind. I find that in the late fall and winter months though, a lot of people succumb to the temptation to just throw on an oversized and sloppy coat or sweatshirt to keep warm on their way out the door. Layers are without a doubt the best alternative as they will keep you just as warm if not warmer (depending on how many you pile on) and they are far more visually appealing! A tasteful mix of textures and patterns or colors creates an interesting aesthetic-- some of my favorite outfits in my closet happened when I just started putting different pieces on. As your flair for outfitting yourself improves, the layered look will give off that perfectly sexy, messy, "I-rolled-out-of-bed-looking-this-good" vibe. Effortlessly chic. 

Ever since I played personal shopper for Michael at the beginning of the school year this fall, he's been eager to get to wear the colder weather clothes we bought. Yesterday he came over to pick me up and take me to the doctor. When I opened the door to let him in I was incensed that he dared to look great while I was stuffy-nosed, and aurally infected, still bumming in my pajamas at three in the afternoon, and simultaneously impressed with his eye candy of an outfit. It was a perfectly delicious blend of fashion tastes resulting in a look you could call "playful hipster." He combined a well-tailored pair of black pinstripe pants with a sleek belt and vintage buckle. On top he wore one of our favorite Goodwill finds, a worn-in black Coca-Cola graphic tee written in Russian (I think), and added to it a standard blue-toned plaid flannel. To top off this layered cake with a bit of stylized frosting, he threw on a simple twill jacket with a skinny knit scarf and wore blue high-top sneakers. And of course, as Michael does every day, he wore his Swiss Legend watch and black Ray-Ban aviators that I got him. The look had a character and charm all its own. I've tried to recreate it below as best I could with similar items I found online (the original was better though). I think this is a very interesting but easy look just begging to be emulated. Enjoy!

Michael by slindig05

Heavy Flannel Check Long Sleeve Shirt A , 30 GBP
Gourmet Men's Nove Sneaker, $100
Bulova - Men's BVA Series 115 - 98A110 (Silver/Gold) - Jewelry, $503
Ray-Ban RB8041 Aviator Titanium Sunglasses | Official Ray-Ban Site, $215
Bedstu - Precious (Silver) - Accessories, $55
Cheap Monday Vince Checked Scarf, $24
Gap Pinstriped tailored pants (slim fit), $70
Fix Design, omaggio alla Coca Cola sulle t-shirt
Monster Vintage.com Vintage Clothing at its Best For Mens & Womens...
DJPremium.com - Detailed Images of JET LAG JACKET by Black Apple
JanSport Right Pack Originals - Imageview - Free Shipping & Return...

I'm shipping some of my clothes tomorrow and piling whatever can fit into my car. Michael and I are going to road-trip to New York starting either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning depending on how quickly we get everything done! If all goes as planned we should be getting in no later than Sunday. I just loaded a bunch of music on my iPhone for the drive. Anyone have any good playlist suggestions?? It's quite a long trip... Wish me luck! By the way, I made a new banner for my blog and my Twitter page. What do you think?

-S.

Sleepyhead

As it has been since I was a little girl, sleeping is probably one of my favorite "pastimes." When I move to a new place I obsess over the details of my bed and the ambience of my bedroom. I layer my plushy pillow-top mattress with 700 thread count sheets and a five-inch thick goose down feather bed, finishing off the delectable dream cloud with a fluffy eiderdown duvet and a mountain of silk satin encased pillows. Everything housed by those glossy, painted walls invites you to relax and lounge. So it would seem only fitting that I might try to take clothes intended for under the comforter and put them out on the sidewalk. Now I don't mean you should take to the streets in your Nick & Nora flannels. (Not to knock them, of course! Mine are pink with shoes all over...naturally.) Instead, I'm talking about something a little more intimate and feminine: the bed jacket. Bed jackets were popular in the 1930's and 1940's, used to cover a woman's upper body while she sat in bed. They are generally short, loose jackets of decadent materials and adornment, ideal for the most languorous of glamour queens. Add a little luxury to your basic jeans and tanks with one of these luscious options. 

S.

**Where to buy? From upper left: Powder Blue Velvet; Vanity Fair Peach; Aqua Crepe Silk; Satin Pink Floral; Peach Pink Ribbon; Baby Pink Pleats; Coral Ruffles; Barely Pink Sheer Lace; Creamy Lemon Lace; Ice Blue Shimmer; Smocked Butter Pink; Ivory Lace Bubblegum; Blousy Blush.

If your mama didn't bring you up according to the laws of eBay like mine did, here are some non-auction options for you after the jump! ;)