just sitting in the kitchen with my fortune and fame

hmmmm how do we feel about these alexander mcqueen for puma sneakerheels? at first i was like "whoa i'm in love" and then i was all," really, sneakerheels? what exactly is the point of a heel that looks like a sneaker?" and then i thought, "go with your gut alexandra. you personally might not ever own and/or wear them, but let's go ahead and like them."

i'm pretty sure i won't be able to sleep at night till i know how everyone else feels so let's put it to a vote. 

after pondering long and hard, how do these sneakerheels make you feel?

diamonds on the soles of her shoes

hmmmm, fun print flats to brighten up your spring outfits... yes pllllease!

cynthia vincent for target. available april 18

this boots were made for walkin'

nothing like a little blatant self-advertising on a monday morning....
i'm selling a pair of boots on ebay! they're over-the-knee black suede boots by jeffrey cambpell, size 9, and if you want them they can be yours! they're super hott but not really me (i'm not that into boots) and i kinda got them on a whim--oopsies! so i'm asking just what i paid. message me if you are interested, and if you're not then WISH ME LUCK!

who built the machine that washed your brain?

read more @ fashionista or the cut

i wish i was a radio song, the one that you turned up

my birthday is coming up!! well, not reaaalllly, i still have a ways to go, but i'm pretty sure that aquarians are stoked on their birthday because i love love love celebrating my birth. in other words, the countdown has begun. and even though it was just christmas and i just got super lvoely wonderful thoughtful gifts, that is not stopping me from whipping up a little birthday wishlist. afterall, this year is kindof a big deal...i'm turning 25! here's what i've been eying so far:

i could either go big...i mean ALL.OUT. with this guy.

canon power shot g11.le sigh....

or i could shoot for more things in a more managable pricerange. 

clockwise from top left: girls with glasses tee by danny roberts, $42; braided belt, $16; brazilet wish bracelet, $5; under one sky cross body satchel, $32; chancellor bib necklace, $17.80; phantasy velvet flat, $14.80; indidenim custom jeans, $145; angel by thierry mugler, $75.

don't walk, run!

if you are a girl and you live in san francisco, listen up! london sole is having their amazing annual sale!!!! bins and bins of adorable ballet flats are $60/pair. that is pretty much 75% off!!! it's such a deal and it is KILLING me that i must resist temptation due to a self-imposed shopping ban. i just have to keep telling myself, "i am wearing brand new shoes today. i am wearing brand new shoes today" and hopefully this mantra will get me through the day. it's killing me! somebody go buy a pair and then come across the alley to show me!

London Sole

19 Maiden Lane, SF, CA

415.397.8088

why didn't i think of this?

i was so stoked about yesterday's gilt sales that i just had to tell my girlfriends at work, and the favor was most definietely returned! i told my friend sharon about the sale (where she scored a botkier satchel. sweet!) and she told me about dekkori, which is just about the coolest thing i've ever seen.

founded by shoe-lover stephanie kim, dekkori is a line of shoe accessories that glams and transforms an ordinary pair of pumps. the concept is to "maximize the styling options" for a given pair of shoes, turning in slingbacks into strappy sandals or even boots. dekkori is perfect for those on a shoe budget, or when under-the-bed, over-the-door, and every inch on the closet floor is filled with shoes. the possibilities are truly endless.

dekkori just lanched an online shop, and stockists can be found on the sleek and stylish website. it's not too late to put these bad boys on your holiday wish-list....trust me, i am!! i can just tell i will be day-dreaming about these until i have my hands on them!

my faves: (ps it is really hard to pick out only five)

the defiance ankle boot

the miracle over-the-knee boot

 the simone lace-up boot

 

the allison satin ankle wrap

the tiffany fringe t-strap


pics via dekkori.com

you only want what you can't have

you know that saying? well i can attest that is does not only apply to babies and/or lovelorn teenagers. i recently had to tighten the old purse strings and really watch what i am spending. which for me is just not spending at all, i can't do that only spend a little junk. i can justify too many things. this started this weekend and i was very good: i was at school, then a concert, then home, and the park all weekend. no opportunity to shop. well monday morning rolled around and my wishlist is all of a sudden miles long and full of things i actually must have NOW.

1. lessons on how to "slappa tha bass." for reals, i really want to learn how to play. bad enough that i air-bass in the shower (tmi?)

tina weymouth, bassist and founding member of the talking heads

pic from http://jbtaylor.typepad.com

2. neon long handle totes that i saw in the window of marc by marc as i rode by on the bus

pic from iwantbags.blogspot.com

3. dress side story from modcloth,  seen on rebecca here.

pic from modcloth. 

4. brown booties/oxfords like these. i would probs switch out the laces, btdubs. and also these.

pic from etsy via style hive. 

5. ringtones for my phone: fleet foxes, rilo kiley, beyonce, lil wayne, fleetwood mac, omg so many i want!

pic from gingerasia.com

later tonight i might try harder to add an mp3 to this post. too much for right now

6. birthday present for my brother. rather, a late birthday present for my brother. oops!

pic from http://www.graphic-design-employment.com/

7. completely awesome YSL earrings from market publique

pic from market publique

ok that's it for now, but i know i can think of more. i cannot wait till i balance my budget or close the deficit or whatever it is they do. private sector?

the new 'do

 for those that know me this will come as no surprise: yesterday completely overhauled my hair. i went from strawberry blonde to dark brown in the course of an hour and a half. i don't know what inspired this change but i love it! i feel like a different person. my hairdresser is SO fantastic, he makes every color look like my “natural color” (whatever that means anymore). i love how instantly the dark brown changed my complexion completely! my eyes all of a sudden pop with green! my co-worker said i looked super tan! my skin tone looks much more even! it’s such an amazing and fun transformation…maybe that’s why i do something like this 4 times a year.

so…what do you think? i love to hear people’s reactions to things like this, and don’t worry I won’t be offended if you like other colors better. i’m pretty used to that too.

also, socks with open-toed heels? totes digging it! are you? 

 

cashmere tee: isaac mizrahi. skirt: jcrew. socks: brand?? purchased at loehmans. shoes: nine west. bag: comptoirs des cottoniers.

ps. not so into these pictures. what a horrible background. might stick to laundry room photoshoots from now on.

more boots

geez i am the worst. not only am i more torn on which pair to get thanks to everyone's insightful comments...now i have more to add to the mix.

banana republic equestrian rainboot. $98

too boring? i love these classic looking boots, but maybe some color would help make a rainy day less drab.

michael kors stormy rainboots, bloomingdales. $125.

also too plain? but they are motorcycle rain boots! like frye's but rubber!

ok, so i've been lucky and it hasn't poured again yet. but i need to be prepared...let's choose a winning style! i think i have elimated the lace-up chookas if that helps. but i still like the rest! help me out in the comments!

jessica z

my girl jZ dresses to impress everyday of the week. here is but a sampling of the outfits she throws together...from monday meetings to thursday wrap-ups, she's got it covered. and without any boring fallback outfits (trust me, her 'fallbacks' are way too stylish).

 

isn't she just the cutest?

thanks, jess!

rainy days ahead

it's that time of year....winter is on its way. in san francisco that means months of mild gray days with hopefully good amount of rain (yes, i went there and while rain is no fun for anyone, it's certainly better than a drought and fires). unfortch for me, my super cute rainboots cracked and now they don't serve their primary purpose all that well. that is to say, they don't keep my feet dry. i can get away with it on light rains, a.k.a. mist, but not for actual drops of water falling from the skies.

i'm not exactly the biggest fan of boots, rain or otherwise (see carousels and bows wherein i discuss that socks are like prisons for my feet. boots are maximum security, but cute). nevertheless, wet feet are pretty awful so i am embarking upon a search for new rainboots. knowing me, this could last all season and then i could put it off again until next october.

chooka lace-up rain boot. nordstrom's. $79.95

too much?? i like the lace-up cuz it's different. and i love the olive green trim at the top.

chooka signature croc boot. nordstrom's. $79.95

too boring? what's up with that big chooka label on the side. but i do like the croc.

tretorn skerry vinter. piperlime. $60.

too short? hmmm i kinda like that. and fur!! they come in a goodlooking brown also.

hunter original in merlot. piperlime. $115.

too expensive? these are the classics though, so maybe they are built to last. hopefully.

kate spade randi. kate spade. $125.

too absolutely ridiculous? yes. but too cute?? also yes.

can we play the voting game on this one? that was so much fun last time. also, please if someone who lives not in a mostly dry climate has any suggestions i would looooove to hear them. i'm all over the place on this one and clearly need some guidance. thanks!!

happy friday!

i know that on a friday afternoon, the last thing anyone wants to think about is monday morning, but i just want to QUICKLY point out that the pierre hardy for gap fall/winter boots are hitting stores on...you guessed it, monday morning. just a lil something to keep in mind over the weekend!

pic via vogue.fr, but also via nitrolicious (it's the same imgae duh)

which ones are your fave? i'm feeling the tan suede...with black tights and a dress that could look kinda cute!

ta-hizzle

last week i left you all with some awesome art activities to do while i was in the middle of the woods in tahoe (=taheezy, ta-hizzle, ta to the hoe, etc). i spent most of the time carting around firewood, going on hikes, and eating pancakes, but it wouldn't be a weekend without a great shopping find. behold, the ultimate hipster sneakers that i bought for --are you ready for this? maybe you should be sitting down-- $2.49 at RITE-AID!!!! i know i know, i am one lucky girl.

 

 

 

who makes these puppies?? 

cotton--the fabric of our lives.

knubs and a weave

over the weekend i took all my tearsheets from the september mags (i had a LOT) and assembled them into one nice inspiration book. a little cheeseball, i know, but it cleans up a lot easier and it turns out it's quite helpful. when looking back through all the pages i had torn out, i figured out what i was most attracted to this season. and that, my friends, is texture. yes, more than any color or silhouette or designer in particular,  texture--anything that made me want to reach out and feel the fabric-- was ripped out and sprayglued. 

with my inspiration as such, and the weather turning awful (i hate the fall, but that's another post all together), on tuesday i got crafty with my tights and paired them with my black woven boots. the colors match but the textures contrast in a really cool way.

tights: gap, paris (turned inside out). boots: handmade in italy, available here

tom-toms

while we're on the topic of shoes that are cute and affordable, i give you: TOMS with laces!!! now i don't usually go for laces, but a) these laces look minimally annoying and b) it says you don't even need them! these colors are perfect for fall, and in case you want two pairs (hey, decisions can be really hard to make some days) keep in mind that for every pair you buy for youself, a little kiddie in a developing country will get a pair too! sweet deal!

perfect for the place des vosges

a few weeks ago one of my oldest friends, kailey, showed matt and i around the marais --an almost too cool neighborhood in paris. she brought us to an excellent breton crepe restaurant, then to the swedish cultural center for some courtyard coffee, then to 'merci' aka the coolest store in the entire world, and finally to chill in the places des vosges. it was sitting here amongst the french hipsters and beautiful families, that i realized i want to live here. one day i want to look and act as effortlessly cool as the parisians manage to do.

the first step to accomplishing this is, obvi, owning all shoes produced by MaraisUSA. owned and founded catherine chu and haley boyd (also the designers, natch), MaraisUSA is named after the iconic, eclectic neighborhood that straddles the third and fourth arrondisements.chu and boyd have used their parson's educated minds to create super cute shoes, adored on covetable on so many levels. i'm telling you, all i need to do is to wear any pair of these and stand outside the Musee Picasso and i'll fit right in!

below are some of my favorites, though i am not lying when i say it's hard to choose just one (or four). but at prices this good you don't have to. plus, if you purchase now you can save 25% off by entering POLKADOTS at check out. and that totes means you can add those boots to your order...all the cool kids are doing it.

army boots, $98

tuxedo boots, $145

oxford, $88

two-toned flats, $64

classic pump, $96