Ga-ga, Ooh-la-la

Aie me, I know I have been a very bad & absent blogger of late. More on that another time I just really wanted to share this and get your thoughts.

Has everyone seen the Lady Gaga Shop today up on Gilt Groupe? (If you aren’t a member yet and want an invite just leave a comment and I’ll send one to ya).

The shop curated by the Lady’s stylist extraordinaire Nichola Formichetti is full of cool easy pieces (at all different price points) that anyone could easily wear. The styling, the makeup and the models take the clothes (like an average pair of khakis or a printed skirt) to a Gaga-ified level that sheds a little light maybe on the method behind the brilliant madness.

Clothes from left: Acne GIN34 Slim Chino; Marc by Marc Jacobs Woven Flax Twill Dress;  Pour La Victoire Lissa Peep Toe Bootie; Eva Franco Jacquard Deja Vu Skirt (all pieces for sale at Gilt Groupe right now, so get there fast!)

Capping Things Off

While you know I have had my experiences with high heels, I am a flats girl through and through.

Spring’s showing of ballet flats capped with a pop of color (or shine or monochrome) has me tickled pink! (Or coral, or silver) I love this fun little way to add a dash of color into an otherwise neutral, basic shoe.

A ballet with a cap of black always makes me think of one thing: Coco Chanel. But, these lovely specimens make me think of popsicles, disco balls, sno cones & cotton candy. (Not to mention short skirts and bare legs.)

I am already feeling all jazzed up for summer!

*Shoes:

Top row: Kate Spade/Belle by Sigerson Morrison /Jil Sander

Bottom row: Marc by Marc Jacobs/Reed Krakoff/J.Crew

Black Tie Optional

Yes it’s true, white is the color of summer. This bodes badly for me as I have quite an affinity for stumbling while drinking red wine (or diet coke or coffee or tea or any other stain-friendly beverage).

I guess I’m just going to have to stick to drinking water all summer long because all of this white clothing is looking so good to me: The dresses, the pants and now the jackets too. I currently have a white blazer with black lapels at the very top of my wishlist.

This one from Emerson Made has stolen my heart. I love it styled with jean shorts and an easy tee and I know it would be great with any of my summer dresses (and even, perhaps, as a cover-up for my wedding dress???) I love the slim shape and cropped waist on this baby, I can see us forming a long and fashionable friendship together.

I noticed several styles in the same vein that I thought I would share. A little something for everyone in size, shape and price. Now what are you waiting for?? Start, putting on your top hat, tying up your white tie and brushing off your taaaiiiilllllls!

*Jackets from left: Emerson Made (swoon!); Zara; Elizabeth & James (via Shopbop); Mason by Michelle Mason (via Barneys)

Although I am excited for many of the upcoming trends for Spring, I think my favorite of all is the return of color. Especially on the feet.

Colored shoes in all shapes and sizes are all the rage for Spring dressing (perhaps to balance out all of those white dresses on top). The most desirable of them all are the colorblocked sandals from Fendi.

I mean look at them. From the clashy, mismatched, juicy jewel tones to the double ankle strap to the totally modern heel, these shoes are ridiculously cool, make no mistake.

Too bad I’ve already made my expensive shoe purchase for the season or else I might be tempted to make a very impulsive purchase.

*Shoes from left: 1/2/4 – via Fendi.com; 3 – via Saks Fifth Ave

Going Bare

Now I am just as excited as the next girl that it is finally starting to feel a bit more like Spring out there. It’s making me reach for the more colorful pieces in my closet and giving me the urge to stay out later and drink more white wine.

Over the weekend I noticed a brigade of bare legs strutting their stuff around me. The gloves were off and Bermuda shorts, mini, pencil and flowy skirts were flirting with the breeze all over town.

This brought to mind one question. Ladies of New York, aren’t you coooold?

This happens every year. We get the tiniest taste of Spring and the gloves come off. Shorts, skirts, sandals and all in the not-quite-balmy glow of mid-50 degree temperatures. I’m chilly if I expose anything below the elbow! I considered wearing open-toes shoes today (it is supposed to hit 70 after all) and then decided against it.

Am I  just too cold blooded to take it or are these ladies jumping the gun?

What about you all? How long do you wait before you go bare for summer?

Please oh please don’t tell me that I officially stopped growing at age 16 because I’ve got to get super tall (and quick!) so I can jump on the tails on Spring’s loooooong skirt trend.

I love how this look has really caught on, it is so elegant, graceful and elongating. It takes fashion back to a very good & feminine place but with a definite modern twist. I’ve been rocking this long lady for the duration of Fall and Winter (and will probably update in a lighter color for Spring, it’s less than 50 bones after all) but I think I’m ready to take things a little further like these ladies have–as in all the way to the floor (or almost).

From left: Giovanna Battaglia in an Erdem dress I would sell my firstborn for (via The Moment); a chic Annie Hall-inspired vintage look (via Fashionising); my sketch of the Theyskens’Theory Saul Skirt that I’ve got at the top of my wishlist; laid-back perfection from the J.Crew Fall 2011 Lookbook (via Refinery29); and a lady in white captured by The Sartorialist.

Bangle Brigade

Tommy Ton, the blogger behind Jak & Jil is probably my No. 1 favorite of all of the street style photographers out there because he’s got such a great eye for detail. In his shots I often spot nascent little trends that never cease to be cool and interesting.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I love a trend that doesn’t require any shopping beyond your own closet (or in this case, jewelry box). If you haven’t already guessed, I’m talking about the mismatched, multi-layered–almost bohemian if it didn’t look so stinking edgy–bracelet trend I’ve noticed in many of Ton’s shots.

So ladies (and gents, this one works for you too actually), whaddaya got? A watch seems to be a good start. Any brightly colored bangles? Load ‘em on. Your mother’s old charm bracelet? Great. Got any friendship bracelets? No? Can you make one? Get to work. Ok, silly bands? No, definitely not. But rubber bands, those will do! Anything spangly, braided, rhinestone-encrusted or tied with a leather cord? Perfect, the more the merrier. Ok, can you bend your wrist still? No? Great. You’re all set.

All photographs by Tommy Ton. From top left by row:

1/2/5/6/7 Jak & Jil for Style.com at Paris Fashion Week; 3/4/8/9 From Jak & Jil (click on number for direct link)

For Your Reading Enjoyment

Happy Friday everybody! I simply cannot handle another day of rain so this morning I decided to transport myself to a warm and creative place via a tropical breakfast of kiwi, orange and banana and the pages of the newest issue of Matchbook Magazine, one of my latest & greatest online indulgences.

Don’t you just loooooove this bookshelf from the home of Minnie Mortimer (whom you may know from her awesome eponymous clothing line) photographed by Bonnie Tsnag for Matchbook?

Andy and I have quite the book collection and it is growing bigger all the time due to a serious weakness for art and design books (in fact, click over to Tumblr for some of the latest additions). Someday when we own our own place we’ll be able to build a wall of books in the perfect shade of grey just like this one!

Check out the rest of  Matchbook vol. 3 right here!

Tough Cookies

Remember when I was telling you how much I am struggling to grow my hair out for the wedding?

Whelp, it’s still a challenge (and I’ve got a long ways to go until October) and I just can’t handle this adorable new preppy-meets-edgy take on the flattop on all the cool little laaaiides out there.

I’ve always had a secret fantasy about shaving one side of my head (like my super kickass punk rock roomie did in college) but I’ve never quite had the cohones. I love this cut because it gets to be rock and roll and pretty and crisp all at once.

So, while I’ve got one heck of a hankering to take a pair of scissors to my locks, I am going to hold back. The promise of a 70s sheaf of hair that I can braid into a bun on top of my head is mighty enticing as well and I can always try out the flat top come November.

Until then let’s all admire these pretty ladies snapped on the streets for their awesome coifs.

Image credits (from left): The Locals; Garance Doré; The Sartorialist; Mr. Newton

Banish the black, burn the blue & bury the beige, from now on ladies…

Perusing the goods over at Mr. Newton the other day I was struck with an overwhelming wave of happiness.

How can pink pants not put a smile on your face? (Well, unless you are that girl at the top left I suppose.)

Credit whom you will for this bright new trend (I for one am going to tip my hat to the Jil Sander S/S 11 collection for making us all want to wear color again). It’s so nice to see some serious shades of this hue out there.

I especially love the way it pairs back to the khakis, greasy greys and camels we’ve all been loving so much lately. Make no mistake, pink is the new, well pink!

Kind of reminds me of this illustration from way back when too!

*All photos from Mr. Newton. More specifically, here and here.