Pump It Up!

When I received an email from Bloomingdales the other day, announcing Burberry's new fall accessories, I was too intrigued not to look. They are indeed--as advertised--"a study in modern classics," not that I would have expected anything less from the Brits... That said, there is one particular item that I am now fully coveting: the Bridle Housecheck Platform Pumps. Good thing my birthday is next month!

Truly, the Bridle pumps are nothing short of extraordinary. These classic leather pumps come in a warm, chestnut-ish brown color called "redwood" that is reminiscent of falling leaves--and is basically the perfect color for fall. Of course, as with all Burberry pieces, no detail goes unnoticed, with a lining of Burberry's signature plaid, delicate scalloped edge trim along the platform, and tonal seaming. The bottom line: pump it up! I want these. Now. AND I want someone to buy them for me. Okay? Thanks.

Image: Bridle Housecheck Platform Pumps $495 by Burberry, available from Bloomingdales (www.bloomingdales.com).

In Remembrance of Summer Reading Lists

Remember summer reading lists? These days, my reading lists are mostly self-imposed or for the sake of my book group, but nothing compared to the pressure of finishing up a book just in time for the first day of school. My dear friend, Talyn, and I would often take snacks and camp out in Harvard Yard to try to get our reading done as summer vacation came to a close; the only trouble is, the squirrels are eerily tame there--and one of us reads much faster than the other... Still, I sort of miss the enforced academia, the tiny black and white print on countless pages of classic literature. Fortunately for me (and any other resident dorks out there), now you can wear the best and brightest of your summer reading list! I kid you not.

Established in 1984, Out of Print is a clothing company with a mission to celebrate the world's great stories through fashion. So there ARE other resident dorks out there in the world of fashion--hurray! Their line of tees feature iconic book covers, many of which are now out of print. Among other classic works, their collection includes The Catcher In the Rye, Moby Dick, and even The Hound of the Baskervilles. Okay, NOW do you remember summer reading lists? Even more fantastic is that they have a men's line and a women's line so if you're sweetie is as bookworm-ish as you are, you'll be in fashionable company. Plus, they're cozy too! According to the Out of Print website, each shirt is treated to feel soft and worn like a well-read book. And if you really want to feel good about your purchase, you should know that for every tee-shirt sold, Out of Print will donate one book to a community in need, thanks to their partnership with Books for Africa.

As the end of summer approaches, you may be lacking that looming deadline of "must reads," but you can easily fill that academic void with a few "must buy" tee-shirts instead. So go ahead, do it in remembrance of summer reading lists. It might just be a good story...



Images, in order of appearance: (1) Tales of the Jazz Age tee $28, available from Out of Print (http://www.outofprintclothing.com/); (2) Moby Dick tee $28, also from Out of Print.

Fall Fashion Preview: Military Madness

With the hot summer days dragging, what has kept me going lately is...the air conditioning (sad but true). So in order to preserve my sanity and maintain my priorities (fashion!), I've been doing a bit of wishful thinking and looking ahead to fall. I have to tell you, the fashion forecast will make you mad for military--and I mean that in the best way possible. This fall, military chic will be everywhere, and the designers we know and love have truly outdone themselves. So without further ado, how about a little sneak peek?

It's better in leather: Probably my favorite fall item so far is the Heirloom Arturo jacket; not surprisingly, it's also amongst the latest and greatest from one of my favorite designers, Diane von Furstenberg. And DvF nails every detail of this military-inspired leather jacket, from its commanding structure to the eight brass buttons down the front. If I told you I salivated a little when I first laid eyes on this quintessential statement piece, would you judge me?

A woman in uniform? Don't mind if I do! Especially when the uniform in question is a classic army green, conjuring an "army surplus" aesthetic that is as functional as it is edgy. Made of a comfortable stretch cotton to boot, this dress features an off-center zipper, structured collar, and drawstring tie waist that accentuates the feminine elements of military chic.

Take it literally: Not that I needed another reason to anxiously anticipate the fall collections, but my love of all things camo print has been fully disclosed countless times before. Once again, the key to camo is balance; because the print is so bold in and of itself, it's most effective (and most high fashion) when applied to classic looks. For precisely this reason, I'm in love with these camo print flats from Michael Kors' KORS collection. The traditional ballet flat style gets a fierce makeover, with a camouflage printed leather upper that will add a hint of military madness to any outfit. I'm thinking: these flats, plus a pair of dark skinny jeans with a white tee= classic. Of course, if you're in the mood to spice up your 9 to 5, why not wear them with a basic yet elegant black suit?

The best part of this fashion forecast? There's SO much more to see--and if you can't hardly wait, thanks to the miracle of pre-sales, some of these style goodies are available now. But for those of you who can be patient, it will be worth the wait; military madness will soon abound. While some may lament the end of summer, believe me when I tell you that your wardrobe will be grateful for the upcoming season. After all, who needs a silver lining when you can have camo print, brass buttons, and army green?

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Heirloom Arturo leather jacket $875 by Diane von Furstenberg, available from Bloomingdales (http://www.bloomingdales.com/); (2) Uniform Stretch Cotton Dress $295 from Marc by Marc Jacobs, also available at Bloomingdales; (3) Olympia Ballet Flats $185 from KORS Michael Kors, also available at Bloomingdales.

Don't You Step On My Blue Suede Shoes

I was killing time before a dinner date the other night and browsing the shoe selection at Nordstrom (as luck would have it, they are having their Anniversary Sale from now until August 2), when all of a sudden, I found myself electrified by a serious pop! of color: hello, blue suede shoes! Certainly not the most traditional color scheme as far as footwear is concerned, I couldn't help but fall a little bit in love with a pair of royal blue suede platforms. And to think, they're on sale...

Like Carl Perkins' classic rock 'n roll song, the Scarlet Platform Pump by Calvin Klein are timeless, with a round toe, a chunky wrapped heel, and an elevated platform--and all in a brilliant electric blue?! Guaranteed, you won't need to warn anyone not to step on these blue suede shoes. As an added bonus, the 3 3/4 inch heel isn't overly sky high, so you don't have to sacrifice comfort for a bit of rock 'n roll style either.

Can you tell that I'm seriously tempted? As we've discussed before, a little pop! of color can go a long way, and such fiercely fabulous footwear would instantly transform any outfit. Indeed, it's my own personal belief that shoes are a totally acceptable way to make a fashion statement in practically any setting. Although you might not be able to wear suede pants to the office, you can definitely bring some swagger with a pair of suede shoes. After all, if a trend is cool enough to make its way into the rock 'n roll ranks, you sort of have to, well, roll with it... Just don't you step on my blue suede shoes!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Carl Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes" album, image thanks to Amazon (http://images.amazon.com/); (2) Scarlet Platform Pump in royal blue suede $72.90 (on sale!) by Calvin Klein, available at Nordstrom (http://www.nordstrom.com/); (3) Scene from Gossip Girl, with Blake Lively's character, Serena van der Woodsen, rocking a pair of electric blue heels, image thanks to Culture of Cute (cultureofcute.com).

British Invasion

Mad about plaid? Not to worry, you're amongst friends. Catching up on my fashion magazines this past weekend, the July issue of In Style gave me something to celebrate: this month, Burberry is launching it's very own cosmetics line. Now how's that for a British invasion?

According to Christopher Bailey, Burberry's Creative Director, It started because I felt that, at shows and the shoots, the whole [Burberry] attitude is epitomized through the shoes, the bags, the clothes, the accessories, but then the face was the one thing I really struggled with. When we were doing makeup, I felt like we weren't able to get the right attitude. It was either caked-on makeup or then just the wrong colors, the wrong tones, the wrong spirit for makeup. I wanted it to be this kind of effortless elegance.

Sometimes, when you want something done right, you have to do it yourself--and so Burberry has, with a 96-piece collection that reflects the same ease and class as a Burberry trench. For its freshman year, the Burberry Beauty collection will be sold exclusively at Harrod's in the UK, Nordstrom in the US, and Faces in Hong Kong. Perusing the selection at Nordstrom online, I was captivated by the Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow, whose color selection captures the ease and versatility of the collection and ranges from classic trench coat-inspired shades to smoky metals. In fact, "Trench" is indeed one of the available colors, and seeing how obsessed I am withmy actual trench, I may need to throw in a bit of Burberry eye color for good measure.

In Christopher Bailey's vision, The Burberry girl wears just a trace of makeup — no crazy eyes or crazy lips. This sounds about right to me, especially in the summer when less is more. Granted, I won't know for sure until I actually try it, but I have a good feeling about this... To date, I've never gone wrong with Burberry, and I sort of feel like this may be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Cheers to the British invasion!



Christopher Bailey, as quoted (1) on Stylelist (http://www.stylelist.com/) and (2) in the New York Times Magazine Blog (http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/). Images, in order of appearance: (1) Burberry advertisement, image thanks to Neverwoodhigh (http://www.neverwoodhigh.com/); (2) Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 6 Almond $29 by Burberry Beauty, available at Nordstrom (http://www.nordstrom.com/); (3) Select products from the Burberry Beauty collection, photograph also from the New York Times Magazine Blog.

Let Them Eat Cake!

When the sun sets on these scorching summer days and it's time for a bonfire on the beach, sun-kissed fashionistas reach for a cozy hoodie to snuggle up in. And that, my style savvy friends, is where the new lolly.brand Cupcake Hoodie enters the scene...

This summer, the lolly.brand hoodie has been reinvented, with a new look--and a new attitude to go with it. Printed on American Apparel® brand, this asphalt colored hoodie has a looong silhouette (a definite favorite amongst tall, long-bodied girls like me) and also features long sleeves and a handy kangaroo pocket in front. But to be clear, it's really all about the back, which boldly proclaims, let them eat cake. I think our dear beloved Marie Antoinette might agree, don't you? This sweet 'n sassy sentiment is accompanied by lolly.brand's signature cupcake in a neon pink that really pops! Yum.

And if you don't already know, you're sooo VIP! The truth is, this fabulous new hoodie isn't even available on the lolly.brand website yet! But worry not, it will be there soon--so prepare yourself to get comfy. After all, every girl needs to kick off her heels and put her feet up from time to time. And of course, an off-duty fashionista can neverrr everrr have too many hoodies. I should know. What else can I say? Let them eat cake!

Images: Back and front of the (new) lolly.brand Cupcake Hoodie $45 by lolly.brand. Coming soon to the lolly.brand website (www.lollybrand.net) so be sure to stay tuned!

More Fashion at Home: Upcycle Cool

Up until this past weekend, my husband and I have been madly searching for the perfect coffee table. Finally, we (okay, HE) got super crafty and constructed a fabulous table using an old door that we found inside my family's barn. He sanded it down, added wrought iron legs, and viola!--chic and eco-friendly.

While I am now the proud owner of the best coffee table a girl could ask for, I did stumble upon some other fabulous designs during our lengthy quest. In case you should find yourself in the same position, I wanted to share one of my discoveries: vintage luggage tables. Etsy seller LoveNostalgicWhimsy rescues vintage suitcases and converts them into coffee/side/end tables. The finished products are--like my barn door table--stylish and good for mother earth. After all, it doesn't get much more eco-friendly than a found object! And for a price that rivals the likes of Ikea or Target, it's really a no-brainer. The convenience factor of this design is another selling point, for you can open the suitcase/table to use it for storage. And not for nothing, as with most things vintage, your little table will truly be a one-of-a-kind (awww, just like YOU!).

So there you have it, fellow design stars; if you find yourself deciding upon or agonizing over home decor like I have been for the past two months and counting, try going upcycle cool. Remember your three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle! You know it's hip to be green.

Psst... To see more vintage suitcase tables from LoveNostalgic Whimsy, check out her Etsy shop by clicking here.

Image: Vintage Durabilt Luggage Table $80 by LoveNostalgic Whimsy (available online at www.etsy.com/listing/50754335/vintage-durabilt-luggage-table-satin).

Menswear: Get (Bow)Tied Up!

It isn't often that I discuss menswear, since--not being a man--I don't really consider it my area of expertise. Nonetheless, when my style-savvy sister shared the Boston Globe article covering a collection of fiercely fashionable bow ties made by two up-and-coming Boston designers, to say that I was intrigued was quite the understatement. I have always loved the look of bow ties, perhaps because my father occasionally wore them and always looked sooo dapper. Or maybe it's just because I love a pop! of preppy from time to time... Whatever the case, bow ties are undoubtedly "in" these days. So what's with everyone wanting to get tied up?

I have to agree with Globe Correspondent, Liza Weisstuch, who discusses the bow tie's fashion duality. On the one hand, bow ties simply continue to rest comfortably on their laurels, amongst academics and intellectuals who never think twice before they tie one on. Yet, more recently, bow ties have gained a cool factor, donned by both hipsters and hip celebs, who have added the bow tie to their arsenal of fashion accoutrements. Somewhere in between these two poles is where Bruce Franklin and Christopher Bennett, the designers behind Robot & Brucling, enter the scene. The two designers are locals, heralding from Mattapan and Roxbury respectively, and they began their journey into fashion when they grew tired of the standard fare and began designing for themselves.

In Weisstuch's coverage of the two, Bennett reflects on the gap in menswear, We’re at a point in the fashion cycle where gentlemen need more to express their style. He explains that the key is in the accessories, since you can’t have an outfit that says who you are until you accessorize. Well, accessorize they did! Yet, their approach is (refreshingly) anything but traditional. They work with more contemporary materials like denim and leather, further amping up the edge factor with embellishments from studs and spikes to brass skulls to Swarovski bling (now can you see why I love them?). The result is a brilliant hybrid of preppy/punk, a splendid middle ground where the school nerd and the school bad boy can fashionably--if not peacefully--coexist.

To state the obvious, I am not a man--and thus not the target demographic for the Robot & Brucling bow tie collection. However, I am still fully committed to their vision and utterly tempted to add bow ties to my accessories arsenal. I already love the necktie for the office so there is no reason why I can't rock The Phantom (you know I had to pick a design with skulls). Plus, as I'm currently sporting a baby bump, a necktie doesn't exactly lay flat like it's supposed to; fortunately, I can't think of a better solution than a spectacularly blinged out bow tie.

As a side note, my always fashionable sister and I were discussing Robot & Brucling just the other night and are hoping that they will eventually branch out to headbands. To tide me over, I suppose that I could make a DIY project out of it and physically attach one of their irresistibly irreverent styles to a basic headband. Really, it wouldn't get more fiercely fabulous than that. On that front, I suppose you'll just have to stay tuned... But in the meantime, whether you're a guy or a gal, I implore you to give bow ties a chance--especially when they come bearing skulls, studs, and lace. Sort of makes you want to get tied up, doesn't it?

Special thanks to my lovely sister, Annie, for sharing the good word of Robot & Brucling with me!

Psst... Check out the full article from the June 17, 2010 issue of the Boston Globe, Knots ready for prime time by Globe Correspondent Liza Weisstuch! Here's the link: Local designers reimagine the bow tie - The Boston Globe

Image: (1) bowtie collection by Robot & Brucling, as photographed by Essdras M. Suarez of the Globe Staff for the Boston Globe; (2) Bruce Franklin and Christopher Bennett, the designers behind Robot & Brucling, wearing their own bowtie fashions, also photographed by Essdras M. Suarez of the Globe Staff for the Boston Globe.; (3) The Chelsea, also by Robot & Brucling, as photographed by Michele McDonald for the Boston Globe--also available for purchase for $45 from Robot & Brucling (online at www.robotandbrucling.com).