Good morning!  Sorry for the lack of posts recently.  My well meaning husband decided to update some things on our computer and it was on the fritz for a couple days! 

Okay but on to a little personal bitch time... Why is it so freaking hard to find an attractive winter boot you can actually wear in the snow?  Honestly, the boots with tread & traction, the boots with warm lining, the boots that will make your toes happy, are all SO ugly!

UGLY!

And the boots that look good, even the ones that are combat style and supposed to be rugged are actually ridiculous!  It looks like a combat boot but it has no tread.  It may be lined in warm sheep skin but the outside is made of suede?  What!?!   Whoever thought of that must not live where there is actual snow, salt & slush because, NewsFlash!, suede is not waterproof and in fact gets stained by water!  You want something that can survive some wet slushy stuff so you're thinking, "Okay I'll look for rubber, or at the least leather or vinyl."  Good luck because it's a sea of unlined, very unwarm rubber & vinyl boots out there.  Oh and did I mention all the fact that I'm on a budget?  If I wasn't I think these would be for me!  They are nearly $200 and currently only available in size 5.5, so that's lame, but just look and what a well designed boot it is!  Warm fleece lining, beautifully simplistic leather outer(reminiscent of an English riding boot), and a deep rubber tread!   Perfect!

Timberland Women's Mount Holly Waterproof Fleece-Lined Boot

I guess I will have to keep looking and hopefully I can find something before winter is over so I can actually get out and enjoy it!

Workwear Wednesday: Gentlemen's Edition

With as much as I tend to focus on women's fashion, it's hard to believe that I got my professional start as a tailor specializing in menswear. I still love getting my hands on a beautiful mens suit and tailoring it to fit just right.  While I understand that many work environments are more casual today, guys should still know how to do it right when necessary, and SO many men don't!  So today's Workwear Wednesday is for the bros!  Specifically I am reminded of this quote:

"So okay, I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew! - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so!" 

-Cher Horowitz, Clueless, 1994

To start on a friendly note, here are two of your icons, looking quite dapper!

A fedora, perfectly pulled off. Note how this man wears one while NOT evoking Kevin Federline.

Excellently executed mixture of patterns! (not recommended for novices)

These guys look more sophisticated in jeans than any man in a Men's Warehouse suit!

A denim blazer. Again, not for beginners. High attention to accessories makes this work.

Classic high quality oxfords. Throw out your square-toed dress shoes if you haven't already.

Plaid ties are always wonderful!  It's the width & colors that change style over time.

And speaking of ties, you should all know by now that narrow ties are in fashion. Look for ties that are no more than 2&1/4 inch at the widest point. If you are a slender man you can go much narrower, if you've got a broad frame, stick to the 2" width.  Have a sentimental attachment to a super wide tie?  Take it to a tailors to have it narrowed. 

A lesson in layering. Consider not just color but texture too.

He should be wearing socks, but otherwise a great outfit. Notice how the belt matches the shoes?

Very fashionable while still completely masculine. 

Oh boy, I am just loving everything about this guy!  A plaid wool sports coat & matching cap? Now there's something to swoon about! 

Pretty Pumps!

I didn't do Tuesday Shoesday this week so I'll kinda do it today!  Check out these crazy pumps!  They're Manolo Blahnik Swan Satin Pumps and they cost over $1200!  If only, right ladies?

Tuesday Shoesday!

I am LOVING these high heeled gladiator sandals by Guess!  Perfect for a modern hipster bride!  Buy 'em here.

Tuesday Shoesday!

Even though there's more snow in the forcast, I'm thinking positive and so, Ta Da!  Cute summer shoes!!!

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Tuesday Shoesday!

For your viewing pleasure....

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Tuesday Shoesday

Thought these ruffle heels were too cute!

Tuesday Shoesday!

Ridiculously expensive but oh-so-pretty, these Miu Miu (Prada's sister company) heels retail for the price of $860.  I think I will just love them from afar.

Touches of Black

We usually envision pretty pastels when we think about wedding colors, but black is back in a big way! Black and white weddings are nothing new, what with tuxedos having been the standard for several decades, and the whole damask trend that hit a couple years ago. But now black is hitting the wedding industry in a completely different way. Personally I credit Vera Wang's fall 2010 collection which features lots of black accents, like on the dress below, & even and entirely black wedding gown! No, it's not about an overbearing theme that's everywhere you turn (again, remembering the damask trend!). The modern use of black is more subtle, and understated. It's a light touch. It's a whisper of darkness that adds poetry, not drama. Add black to your wedding sparingly & you'll still achieve a look that's sophisticated but not one that's pretentious or imposing.

Ruffle Knickers by LoveBabyGrand and Black Wedding Invitations by ModernGirlInvitations.

Drool-worthy Wedding Shoes!

Alright, I am getting an intense craving to do some serious shoe shopping after putting this post together! Next to the dress, your shoes might be the most exciting part of your wedding ensemble. The shopping experience can sometimes be frustrating but thanks to the internet there is a plethora of gorgeous bridal shoes at your finger tips! All of the shoes here, including the lovely Badgley Mischka's above, can be found on Zappos.com and most come in multiple color options. Make sure you have a napkin handy because these fabulous shoes will make you drool!

I love the sculptural quality of these pumps by Stuart Weitzman.

LOVE these by Kate Spade. Ankle straps are always flattering!

For a beach wedding, both of these Calvin Klein sandals provide wedding day glitz while still making it easy to walk across the sand.

If you're loving the black & white wedding trend get these Caparros sling-blacks to wear with your white gown. The effect will be striking, plus you can keep wearing them after the wedding!

And speaking of non-traditional, why not go for a pop of color? From top to bottom: Chinese Laundry, Nina, & Martinez Valero.

If you need a lower heel, you have a shopping challenge ahead of you. These peep-toe shoes by Stuart Weitzman keep you stylishly & sophisticated with out looking juvenile.

I just couldn't resist adding this last pair! I've always been a fan of T-straps & these feathery pumps by RSVP are not only dreamy but surprisingly affordable!