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...

Obsessed with...

...Citizens of Humanity Avedon Slick Skinny Jeans.

These jeans are...now I don't want to sound too crazy here...my new best friend. I want to buy these jeans a drink. This pair of jeans just might be the one. I am considering leaving my husband to go off and elope with these jeans. Too much?

Well, let me say this: they passed the movie test with flying colors. What is the movie test, you ask? Well my lovely readers, the movie test is as follows...

The jeans must be comfortable enough to sit through a Harry Potter flick for the third time (don't judge me!) without losing their shape, stretching out, or digging in and leaving those oh-so-attractive marks on one's body. Let me tell you...these jeans passed with flying colors.

They are the perfect shade: dark, but not too inky. They are super stretchy. Like I could do the splits stretchy (except I can't do the splits...). The fabric is some random 44% rayon/29% cotton/25% cupro/2% polyurethane combo. I don't know what that means exactly, but it does wonders for the tush. They aren't too low in the rise, but they aren't too high. They are super skinny yet I feel like I am wearing my favorite sweat pants.

I mean...does it get any better? Simply put, they are just perfect. Go buy 'em now. You can thank me later.

Hello Moto...

I LIVE for the day that the Chicago weather gets crisp enough to break out my much beloved leather motorcycle jacket. If I'm being honest with you, my lovely readers, I sometimes wear it even if it's still bathing suit warm because I adore it oh so much.

My jacket is just the way I like it... old, old, old, perfectly beat up and worn in. The leather is soft and it's cropped in such a way that is feminine but tough and cool. I don't know what to say...I love my jacket.

While mine is one of a kind and irreplaceable (I don't even like thinking about life with out it, it's just too sad) the Doma Cropped washed-leather biker jacket (pictured left) www.net-a-porter.com/product is pretty close to perfect in my book.

How to wear it? Well, as I'm sure you know, the big thing to do all last year was to pair it with something girly to strike a cool balance. While I'm certainly not over the idea, I am over talking about it. I get it, I get it. One is tough, the other is sweet. Together you get a look that is tough and sweet...yeah yeah yeah it's fine. Right...so how to wear it? With everything! Make it a part of your style, make it a statement. Wear it every day in every way you can think. I think it looks particularly amazing with a body conscious cashmere dress and opaque black tights It's important to make sure your accessories don't compete...a leather cuff, for example, is just too costume-y. On the other hand, how great would it look with a pair of black patent ballet flats? With dark skinny pants? And the softest, slouchiest(?), comfiest(??) t-shirt you can find? Yes, Please!

Workin' it

When I grew up I decided that I wanted to sell real estate http://www.bairdwarner.com/rebecca.ravenna and be wildly successful so that I could, simply put, buy stuff. So I got my license and to celebrate the momentous occasion, I bought a Chanel wallet http://www.chanel.com/. With a fabulous partner/mentor (love you mom!!!!) by my side I began my climb up the real estate ladder and discovered that not only was I good at it, I loved it too. Now...what to wear to work? This was a challenge. No, seriously...it was! I am 23, and so I will not, nay...I flat out refuse to wear the sad post-college ill fitting business suit that all of my friends so sadly wore. Not me, no thank you! But then what to wear?

I wanted to hold on to my personal sense of style, yet I needed to be professional. I was being trusted with million dollar + homes (so fabulous!) and had to look the part. And so, I cultivated a sort of formula that goes something like this...Ahem...

Structured Jacket+slightly sexy dress +posh bag that holds everything (and I mean everything)+AMAZING shoes=totally chic yet totally me business attire. Allow me to illustrate...

Now I totally switch it up, and depending on who I'm working with and what I'm doing, I can totally get away with jeans and an amazing top or even a slouchy t-shirt with a cute jacket. I think it's best to keep my denim dark and slim so that they almost look like skinny dress pants. My absolute favorite jeans are, but of course, J Brand http://www.jbrandjeans.com/. I love their simple, clean lines and the fact that they fit perfectly. As always, I believe the right shoes and bag can elevate an otherwise casual ensemble. Something high and shiny always does the trick and even though I'm on my feel all day I'd gladly suffer through a little pain. For a pair of Louboutins, wouldn't you? They are, after all, what I work so hard for!

Blazer: Proenza Schouler http://www.net-a-porter.com/

Cashmere Dress: Rag and Bone http://www.intermixonline.com/

Bag: Mulberry http://www.mulberry.com/

Booties: Stuart Weitzman http://www.stuartweitzman.com/

Pumps: Christian Louboutin www.christianlouboutin.com/

My Must-Have for Fall

This Gryphon www.intermixonline.com top is, in a word, perfection. In two words, must have. I see myself wearing this all season long and in oh so many ways. How shall I wear you, let me count the ways...
* With an Audrey Hepburn skinny black pant and patent pumps www.christianlouboutin.com... Ooh, or with a moto style denim with a little bootie...
*OR over a long sleeved burnout t-shirt and super skinnies...
*OR!!!under my favorite leather jacket (with who cares what else...this top would even make sweatpants look amazing...not that I'm suggesting you try it!) would be divine.

My head is spinning with ideas, simply spinning!

And by the by, I am always open to suggestions. How would you style this, my lovely readers?

Happy aniversary/birthday/just because indeed!

http://www.barneys.com/

A BIG thank you to my wonderful hubby who gifted me with the oh so lovely Givenchy Nightingale in a beautiful black patent faux croc! Not only does he know that all good things come in a Barney's box, but he understands (or at least he pretends to...) why this black bag is vastly different from my many other black bags. This will surely be my go to purse for the foreseeable future. Big kiss, Paul!!!!

Very Exciting!!!

Hello my lovely readers. I have but just a small favor to ask of you...please check out this article from the Wall Street Journal. Look closely, you may spot a quote from yours truly.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204884404574362712014868686.html

Even though it is just a small part of the article, it was such a thrill to be interviewed! The lovely Katherine Rosman of the Wall Street Journal, found my blog (which, let's be honest is just the most flattering!!!) and called me for an interview. As a writer with a new blog, it just doesn't get any better to know that someone else is reading what I put out there. So thank you for all of you who support me! I'll keep writing in hopes that you all keep reading.

Balmain Envy

Let's be honest, shall we? Balmain is not in the budget at this stage in my life, which is a shame, I think. I believe that 23 is the age where one can get away with a shoulder pad that rivals that of a linebacker. While I may possess the nerve to wear such threads, the cash...a different tale my friends.

I have been obsessing over the strong shoulder for some time now and regretting ripping the massive shoulder pads out of my mom's vintage St. John jackets. But wait...there is hope for me still!

Imagine my delight when I walked into Zara www.zara.com and saw that it not only was stocked in my favorite color scheme (black, white, grey, and navy please!) but it was full of strong shoulders!

My most exciting purchase was a black sweater with...but of course!...a perfectly proportioned strong shoulder with a dusting of beading for emphasis. A close second came in the form of a boyfriend blazer with enough padding up top to give me the personal space I so desire, but not so much that my beloved hubby made a football joke (that would have gone over my head anyway) Each item was well under the $100 price point so both my inner fashionista and inner accountant (yes, I am a diverse gal) will be plenty pleased.

Ugh...now I'm thinking of the little boxy jackets that I left behind because I had strong-shoulder blinders on. A trip back to the burbs (Zara-Chicago is not slated to open until November so until then I have to make the journey) might be in my future. After all, variety is the spice of life!

Does it get cooler than this?

Um...it couldn't possibly. Love me some Giuseppe Zanotti!

Dress: Herve Leger, www.intermixonline.com
I am thinking this shoe would be the perfect compliment to the LBD...

Dress: Lela Rose, www.shopbop.com ...and the exactly right antidote to a frilly dress.

What do you think, my lovely readers? I say yes please!