Killing Me Softly

For a Bazaar photo shoot, stiletto-master Brian Atwood pummels Rachel Zoe with his own red design as Zoe wears a pair of his booties and a Derek Lam dress.

The brilliant team at Harper's Bazaar must be trying to give me and all of its loyal followers a heart attack. Their latest photo shoot with stylist/fashion goddess Rachel Zoe for the September issue just made my heart skip a beat with its glamour, brilliance and humor.

If you know Rachel Zoe, then you know she's just as synonymous with the high fashion world as she is with her catch phrase, "I die." As she tells Bazaar's Laura Brown, sometimes there just are no other words to capture her enthusiasm for an edgy Atwood pump or shimmering Marchesa gown.

To play off of her famous phrase, Bazaar came up with a death by fashion photo shoot featuring her with Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and Vera Wang, just to name a few. Check out the beautiful photos and the humour with which Zoe and these designers pull it off!

Francisco Costa goes in for the kill on an unknowing Zoe.

Marc Jacobs find Zoe's personality "electrifying."

Buried alive by Michael Kors' own accessories.

This shot of Vera Wang and Zoe is no less that STUNNING!

With the high fashion world often coming across as serious and pretentious, Bazaar's photo shoot is a great reminder of how fun and silly it can be. As Zoe said herself in a Bazaar interview, keeping up the cool factor at a fashion show just doesn't work for her- she's far too excited and captivated to act unimpressed. These photos brilliantly convey not only Zoe's deep love of the sartorial but also the designers' willingness to play down their cool factor.

If the mecca of fashion publications, five top designers and (really) the one-and-only stylist to the stars can have fun with fashion, then why can't we?? Although I'll have to wait until I catch my breath from oogling over these photos.

Otherwise I just might pass out!

Domino Effect

Cover of this month's Lonny Magazine

If you've been searching for a Domino replacement (tear, sniff, sniff), today might just be your lucky day! Yesterday I stumbled across Lonny Magazine, a Domino-esque online publication filled with decorating goodness. I was instantly taken in by its bright colors, modern styles and thoughtful ideas. Plus, all of the items within its pages come at a wide-range of price ranges. Gotta love that!

An example of a glamorous decorating style story within the online pages of Lonny.

While browsing through my first Lonny issue, I noticed that most of the rooms and decor featured were realistic and simple. The suggestions and decoration were not intimidating but approachable. Articles showed real people in their real homes that appeared to be created on their own or at least without much help. And, let's face it, we don't all have the budget for fabulous furniture AND a decorator to select it for us!

LOVE this living room featured in Lonny.

Then I noticed that none of the products or vendors were listed next to the gorgeous photographs. I felt really disappointed, as I had seen SEVERAL items I coveted and could see bringing that certain je-ne-sais-quoi to my own 1940s bungalow. Imagine my delight when I realized you can actually carry your mouse arrow over the item you like and receive a link directly to that vendor's page!! WHA????? Never have I seen this in any magazine before now. Bravo, Lonny! I clicked on tables and mirrors from Williams-Sonoma home, more expensive but swoon-worthy lamps at Pieces NYC, and even found a fabulous (and affordable) cowhide rug at World Market of all places!

Lonny also features the resources for certain stand-out pieces at the end of articles, in case you don't want to click on everything. Photos of each interesting piece are cleanly laid out with their prices, vendor information and purchasing information. It's so simple!

Resources featured in a Lonny resources page.

It's quite refreshing to have a new decorating resource that feels relatable. Inspiration from some of the higher end publications is wonderful, but until I've saved up for that mansion of mine (ahem), Lonny is just perfect.

Small-space storage solutions- thank goodness!!

Just be sure to give yourself ample time to read this one. Did I mention this last issue was 239 pages long??

Imagine the possibilities...

Animal Insticts

Christine Centenera of Harper's Bazaar Australia dons Christian Louboutin's leopard print booties in Milan for Tamu McPherson's blog, All The Pretty Birds.

Personally, I'm over the whole "cougar" thing, but I am totally digging leopard! You simply can't escape the jungle out there. Leopard print is going to be everywhere this fall, if it isn't all around you already. And while I have typically stayed away from the bombshell print in the past, I lately have found myself obsessed with leopard print booties!! The pop of the pattern at my feet is just enough to get me excited about tapping into my inner tigress.

Centenera, in the featured photo above, rocks these Louboutins with such ease. Her outfit isn't fussy or overly styled. She wears solids in natural fabrics and looks appropriate for daytime in the street. Perhaps that's what I love most about this latest footwear- you can wear a simple, basic outfit (for her, a draped black skirt with military-inspired jacket and tights) and then really up the sartorial ante with this sassy yet classic print on your feet!

Christian Louboutin leopard print booties

I also love how this fabulous, fearless footwear anchors a simple t-shirt dress, a la Shenae Grimes in the photo below. It adds a bit of playfulness to an otherwise basic look. The same can be said of Jessica Szohr's booties worn with black ankle-length skinny jeans. And, of course, I can't overlook that Whitney Port is wearing hers with LEATHER SHORTS. Be still my heart...

Celebs rock the trend as featured on The Stylebitches.

Luckily for me and any other fan of leopard ankle booties, we will see them offer them at a range of price points this fall. Check out these beauties as inspiration or as a pair to take up a piece of your closet's real estate!

Guiseppe Zanotti Sculpted Platform Wedge Booties from Shopbop.com

Loeffler Randall Fifi Printed Leopard Ankle Bootie

Rock & Republic's Angie

Jimmy Choo Alanis Calf Hair Ankle Boots from Net-A-Porter

Net-A-Porter stylists add these fierce Jimmy Choos to an otherwise basic outfit. The model wears simple, tailored solids but then packs a party at her ankles!

Choo booties, Net-A-Porter style

In case you still aren't convince about the fabulosity of leopard print ankle booties, give Rihanna a glance in all of her sassiness. Notice again that a t-shirt dress accompanies these stems easily and appropriately. (Captain's hat and structured shoulder detailing optional.)

Rihanna rocks out in leopard print booties.

So get ready for the fall, ladies. It's time to get on the prowl!

Secret Layer

Phillip Lim's glamorous art of layering- Greek goddess meets working girl.

By now you know me well enough to realize that I'm a sucker for sequins. As I may have mentioned, I was named after a "Dynasty" character in 1983, so I must come by it honestly.

But I'm also a patron of the practical on a day-to-day basis and find layering to be the best way to get me through nearly every part of my day- at the gym, at work, running errands, etc.

Imagine my delight when Phillip Lim combined the two ideas into one gourgeous outfit!

On Net-A-Porter, I discovered his new looks for this year's Fall/Winter Collection. The featured look above is the combination of two great pieces, a purple sequined silk top and crepe-jersey asymmetrical dress.

This...

3.1 Phillip Lim Asymmetrical Silk-Crepe Tunic

Plus this...

3.1 Phillip Lim Asymmetric Crepe-Jersey Dress

Equals That!

Each of these pieces is a show-stopper on its own. You could absolutely wear the navy dress sans sequin top with metallic heels for a night of dinner and dancing. And the same sequin top was also shown paired with several other pieces on the runway, including this skirt and top combo.

Sequin Top with Draped Skirt on the Runway.

For the runway, the designer styled the elegant skirt with suspenders, but, in reality, the skirt on its own is the perfect staple item for any career girl.

3.1 Phillip Lim Crepe-Jersey Draped Wrap Skirt

Lim also offered a toned down version of his layered vision, making an ethereal silk tunic to throw on over shorts (as seen on the runway) or a body-con dress (as seen on Net-A-Porter).

Runway

Net-A-Porter Reality

Of course, if you find mixing these layering pieces together too daunting, Lim offered one artfully made piece that offers the illusion of two, his sequin-embellished silk dress.

These glamorous pieces make me long for more black tie events in my life (or should I say, ANY black-tie events!) and a bigger bank account! Regardless of my personal limitations, Lim certainly offered some real gems on the runway this fall. I can't wait to see which starlets sparkle in them this fall...

A(mazing) Day in the Life

Rock Royalty in the Queen City

Anyone who's read this blog in the past two weeks knows how excited I was to see Paul McCartney last week. And let me tell you, the man did not disappoint! Far and away, it was the absolute best concert I have ever seen. He played a great mix of songs, old and new, as well as offered up a little Jimmy Hendrix "Foxy" teaser and a staggering FOUR encores- one while waving a North Carolina flag!!

A champagne toast to start off our night!

If you've read this blog ever, you also know how carefully I consider my apparel for various events and particularly my sister's and my outfits for this show! While we had a limited amount of time to actually get ready, I think we pulled off appropriate and comfortable looks for the night. But you be the judge!

First, B and I sent each other lists of items to bring, including a gray silk tank, black skinny jeans, a black silk blazer, festive clutches and metallic accessories...

Beince and my clothes unite. What to wear??!

Then, Beince and I decided we wanted to wear shorts and breathable fabrics on this 90-something-degree day. Plus, we knew we'd be embodying the words to Paul's own "Everybody's Gonna Dance Tonight." Our two closets combined to create two fun, festive and fashionable outfits...at least I think so!

Me and Beince at our hotel before the show

More from our hotel room photo shoot

My sis wore her own gray silk tank with black shorts and my LA Made cotton wrap vest and Banana Republic chain necklace. ALSO she rocked a great pair of snakeskin Modern Vintage wooden heels. I chose to spring for those Phillip Lim leather shorts I'd been dreaming of (see Golden Zipper's post to fully understand my obsession) paired with a plain white tee but glammed up with a J. Crew sequin cardigan and rhinestone necklace. In proper rocker fashion, I wore my gray suede booties that proved to absolutely wreck my feet by the end of the night!!

B & Me in the same room as Sir Paul. UNBELIEVABLE!

While I had certainly sought style inspiration from Haute Hippie's Trish Wescoat Pound and the undeniable Kate Moss, it was fun to work with items that we already owned. It gave us a chance to be creative, collaborative and resourceful.

But far more importantly, sis and I shared the night of our lives! When we filled up our long summer days thirteen years ago with Beatles songs, biography, movies and trivia, we never dreamed we'd actually spend a fun summer night years later watching Paul McCartney together. I consider myself very lucky to have had the chance to experience such a memorable night alongside my little sister.

And we can't wait to Get Back (to another Sir Paul show, that is)!

Long, Haute Summer

Well, my friends, tomorrow is the big day- my sis and I are headed to Charlotte to see the one and only Paul McCartney live in concert. Can you say, "Ooooooooooooooo!"

Of course, Beince and I have been taking stock of our wardrobes and assessing the outfit situations, as we take seeing one of our life-long icons very seriously. As much as I love Kate Moss and her fellow rock 'n roller model friends, I've decided that Trish Wescoat Pound, founder of Haute Hippie, will actually serve as my ultimate rock-and-roll style icon.

Trish Wescoat Pound, founder of Haute Hippie, as seen in Entree Magazine

Pound founded the gorgeous Haute Hippie line in the Fall of 2008, designing for dressing ease combined with a glamourous edge. Her goal is to create the "Ultimate Closet," where all the pieces can be mixed and match- thanks to her standard color palette of blush pinks, ivories and greys- and do not subscribe to seasons or trends. Her line consists of Art-Deco style flapper dresses, sequin minis, and sparkly statement necklaces as well as basic blazers, boyfriend cardigans and soft tees. ALL of these are meant to be worned dressed up and dressed down, which is part of Pound's brilliance and Haute Hippie's versatility.

Necklace Tee, a standard in the Haute Hippie line year after year

Would be gorgeous with...

Bias Cut Sequin Skirt

As seen in the video Shopbop posted in March, Pound artfully layers boyfriend cardigans with fringed dresses or simple tees with sequin skirts for day or night, winter or summer. (Click here to check it out!) "Mixing Ingredients" allows girls to invest in a few key pieces and wear those special items in different ways from day to day. For example, you could wear the above outfit in the summer for a fun night out or pull on black tights and boots with a long cardigan for an evening out in the fall.

Simply put, I find Haute Hippie clothing and its approach to dressing fun, playful, interesting, and provocative. How liberating to only purchase a few glamourous pieces here and there but find a plethora of options when combined with the right basics!

Here are a few of my favorite special pieces:

Toss this vest over a crew-neck, solid t-shirt dress...

Crapin Vest

Belt a long, gray cardi over this gorgeous number for day and pair with black suede ankle booties for day...lose the cardi for night!

Jeweled Silk Slip Dress

So easy with a black tee, tights, and boots...

Pheasant Feather Skirt from Shopbop

Gorgeous on its own with sandals for summer. Sleek with a black blazer for fall.

Wrap Dress from Shopbop

Gorgeous with a grey tee and black skinny jeans this fall or over a slinky silk dress now!

Beaded Short Jacket from Net-A-Porter

See how Gossip Girl costumers styled it on Blake Lively!

On the set of Gossip Girl as seen on Closetcravings.com

Haute Hippie makes glamour approachable and accessible. So for tomorrow night, I'm going to remember to mix my ingredients, be inspired by vintage and, most importantly, be true to my personal style. After all, The Beatles are a band of the '60s.

Certainly Sir Paul will know a haute hippie when he sees one.

Blouse Renovations: Part Two

Eureka! The PERFECT transitional blouse! I am so excited to have found this top, the EmersonMade Silk Ribbons Blouse, thanks to a blog I have been following...

Styled for Work

Styled for Play

This top will be great now tucked into my white cotton wrap skirt and coral slingback heels- channeling that 1950s glamour that's apparently all the rage for fall- but will be equally as fun and even more functional tucked into high waisted jeans and booties for fall, as seen in the second picture above.

As for the blouse's designer, Emerson, the blogosphere has been blowing up about her and her husband's endeavors! Emerson started out hand stitching floral accessories to wear as pins and other accessories in NYC. After she and her husband married, they moved to the countryside and expanded the business, which now offers home accessories and apparel for pre-order.

Check out EmersonMade for more information or to pre-order this stylish top!!