Obsessed with...

... Frye Engineer Boots 12r www.zappos.com. In black. So cool. Don't ya think? Hello, husband! This is a giant bloggin' hint for ya.

I looove these boots for their cool factor. I think they'll add an edge to any outfit, but I'm kinda liking the idea of wearing them with dresses and tights. Obviously my leather moto jacket will have to sit one out when wearing these because the effect would be way too costumey. Of course these would be great with black skinny jeans and whatever else. They have a whatever kind of a vibe about them, don't you think?

For those of you who don't love the idea of a mid-calf boot (they can be slightly less than flattering), look no further than the Engineer 15r. These are slightly higher. Or...you could go lower and do the 8r. Both very cool options.

I, myself, am still a big fan of the 12r.

Now if I were to, say, get these boots for a gift...I'd be a happy girl!

I missed you!

Did you miss me?

Shu Amore

I'm typically a nudist...when it comes to lip color, that is. I've been looking for, oh I don't know, 24 years to find that perfect natural-but-better lip gloss/stick/pencil/balm/whatever and I have quite the arsenal of contenders.

I've never gone over to the dark side. That is, of course, until yesterday. After weeks of being bombarded by images of vamp-y, purple-y lips (Who What Wear www.whowhatwear.com did a particularly convincing article recently) I decided to take a walk on the wild side and try a dark lip.

And so fate (or habit) led me to Barneys www.barneys.com and I traipsed on over to the Shu Uemura counter and got lucky...er, so to speak. My lovely readers, I'd like to present to you Gloss Unlimited, color pr 059n www.shuuemura-usa.com. OK, so maybe the color name is slightly clinical sounding, but the color is fab. It's a dark and moody purple, but not Halloween purple. So fresh...and I think... so chic with an otherwise bare (meaning mascara only) face and hair pulled back.

Painting the Roses (Valentino) Red

Let's take a break from the shop talk for a moment and discuss Valentino the Last Emperor. So I watched it last night and loved it. Now, I know, this was not a significant part of the film (or is it...) but like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland I could not stop laughing when Mr. Valentino had the less than perfect patches of grass spray painted green. Like the Queen of Hearts before him, this was a testament to an eye for perfection. It's the details...the amazing hand crafted details...that make a Valentino couture gown a piece of art.

One nation...

I pledge allegiance to...this t-shirt...

Just call me Goldilocks. In my quest for the perfect t-shirt, I have come across many that are too (something) or not quite (something) enough. Never have I found one that was just right...until I came across this Easy Scoop Neck Slub Jersey Tee by Nation Ltd. www.intermixonline.com.

This was so perfect that the logical thing to do was buy four. I started out with one, but I loved it so much I wore it 2 days in a row (gross) and I had to have more. Four seemed like the right amount (and it was all Intermix had left). This was months ago and I continue to wear this tee (in white) all the time. I wore it so much that the pocket fell off of one...and it kinda made it even better. I kid you not.

It provides the perfect undone slouch when paired under jackets (and it looks especially cool under my favorite leather Moto http://harleyshops.blogspot.com/2009/08/hello-moto.html) and its amazing how it takes my favorite top (http://harleyshops.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-must-have-for-fall.html) from evening wear to day-appropriate. Love it!

Ah Choo!

Just when you thought shoes couldn't get any higher...they didn't. One of the (many) trends that came out of the S/S 10 New York fashion week was the resurgence of the flat. I'm thinking this was a reaction to the high, higher, highest trend of recent past...but I for one am thrilled. My feet hurt, OK? I always was a big supporter of the chic ballet flat, but I'm not exactly what you'd call tall so I took advantage of the crazy-tall heel craze just so that the rest of the world wouldn't literally loom over me. But now that we are all coming back down to earth, let me profess my love of the Jimmy Choo 'Witty' Flat http://www.nordstrom.com/.

They sparkle! They're happy! (The picture doesn't really do them justice. They are brighter and have glitter running through the patent leather!). I just purchased these shoes last week and I wore them every day since. The key is to pretend they are neutral (which they kinda are...) and go from there. Obviously they punch up basic black, white and grey (my uniform of sorts), and they look insane with jeans, but I particularly loved them paired with a Kelly green top.

So tell me, my lovely readers, are you happy that flats are back?

AsymmeTry

For those of you who follow my blog or know me (even if you only kinda know me...or met me once. Briefly.) you know that I LOVE Barneys http://www.barneys.com/. I was out shopping with my hubby today and as we were walking in, I asked him "How can someone not love it here? Even you...the guy who hates shopping... LOVES Barneys." OK so maybe he isn't quite as enthusiastic about it as I am, but the boy likes it and that's saying something, trust me.

So I was perusing the racks and I came across this cute asymmetrical T by Alexander Wang top and even though I've seen it before (Did I mention I am an avid Barneys shopper?) and overlooked it, I decided to try it on. LOVE. I was definitely wearing the right clothes to try it on with (black skinny J Brands http://www.jbrandjeans.com/ and leopard print Jimmy Choo flats http://www.jimmychoo.com/ ) and the whole look felt incredibly cool and easy.

This is definitely a look best suited for night and not for work (this, if you were wondering is what I wear to work http://harleyshops.blogspot.com/2009/08/workin-it.html), but all it really needs is a simple long chain necklace to add a little something and...that's it. Done. I'm ready to go.

Waxing and Wanging

Honestly? I'm on the fence. I adore Alexander Wang www.alexanderwang.com ! I mean, how can you not? He is so cute! That said, I was eagerly anticipating his Spring 2010 RTW show and I was both disappointed and blown away. OK, now...don't hate me. Hear me out!

The second half of the show was perfection. Give me black and white and I'm a happy gal. This bodycon white dress is definitely going to find it's way into my closet this spring. I'll be waiting (im)patiently at Barney's www.barneys.com for its arrival. I love the sexy cut-outs and the fact that it's revealing yet...not. It's perfection.

This black sparkly number reminds me very much of one of my must-have items http://harleyshops.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-must-have-for-fall.html and provided me with some inspiration of how to wear it. The skinny track pants are so chic and slightly off-putting at the same time (very Wang, I think). I will definitely try some variation of this look using my Gryphon www.intermixonline.com

So now that I have professed my love for the second half of Mr. Wang's show, I gotta say the first half didn't do it for me. This is RTW, and I am searching for a piece from this look (below)that works for me. I just can't seem to find one. I find the proportions odd and the color combo very non Wang-y.

And this look...well I just don't love my belly button SO much that I need to frame it in my dress. Forget the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of khaki (I'd be willing to risk looking preppy for Alexander Wang), I just really don't understand the cut-out. Maybe you'll hate me for this (I hope not because I looove all of you!), but I just don't like it. OK?

On a side note...I need to know where Mr. Wang gets his white t-shirts from. They seem to have become something of a uniform for him (loves it!) and it looks like the perfect white T. Any insider information for me?

merci beaucoup, jean-claude

For those of you who read my last post, you are aware that a certain creature (ahem! Jean-Claude) destroyed a darn good pair of shoes. I looked high and low for their replacement and

voilà! Here they are. After much consideration I have chosen Manolo Blahnik's Creon sandal http://www.barneys.com/. OK now. Let's get down to it, shall we? I'm never one to let something like weather or walking to get in the way of wearing a fab shoe, so even though I live in Chicago and the winters are chilly (that's putting it really really really gently), I plan on rocking these shoes all season long. I am a big fan of the tights/open toe shoe look so obviously that is going to be the best weather solution. I am a big fan of Hue tights, especially the Opaque tights http://www.barenecessities.com/ in black (I only wear black because...I just do, but I really love the choice of bold colors on other people!).

A little black dress, a pencil skirt, something kinda girly, skinny black pants...what outfit wouldn't benefit from a little Manolo enhancement?

The other, more obvious, option for my beautiful new shoes is to just go with the rock vibe and pair them with an ankle jean, sloppy t-shirt, and little leather motorcycle jacket (for which my love knows no bounds)http://harleyshops.blogspot.com/2009/08/hello-moto.html. What do you think, lovely readers? What would you rock these shoes with?

Jean-Claude Van Damn it!

Allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the family...Jean-Claude. Hello and how do you do, Claude? OK, now I love love love my animals...but I wouldn't normally write about them on my fashion blog. Dogs do not wear clothes (never! I mean, a cute collar is fine, but a sweater? No thank you!) and they should NOT be treated as accessories (rather VIP members of the family, of course!). Why then, my lovelies, am I dedicating this blog to Jean-Claude? I'll tell you...he has managed to bridge the gap between pet and fashion...DESTROYER. OF. FASHION.

Imagine my shock and horror when I discovered that Claude chose my fabulous Marc Jacobs wedges to use as his chew toy. They were perfect...so chic, so easy to walk in, they worked with almost everything! And now...they are dead. Well, I am off to search for their replacements and I'll let you know what I find. Jean-Claude is so frickin' cute I forgave him of his fashion sin and all is right with the world...if he gets hold of my Louboutins, I might not be as forgiving. I can't even think about it...