Astamundi

Outfit: Asos, Forever 21Le Silla

2011-01-07T13:55:00.001-08:00

: ASOS

: FOREVER 21

: LE SILLA

Outfit: Calvin Klein, Roxy, les Copains, MotiviLe Silla

2010-10-27T13:10:00.001-07:00

coat: Calvin Klein animal- print cape

parka: Roxy

long sleeve: les Copains chunky sweater

pants: Motivi

boots: Le Silla

Outfit: Top - Asos, leggings

2010-09-28T09:56:00.001-07:00

: ASOS

: ASOS

Oriental, express

2010-08-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

I really love Gilt (http://www.gilt.com/)! A few weeks ago, there was a sale for Amrita Singh jewelry - she makes some absolutely incredible stuff which I always wanted to try but everywhere else it was just too expensive - and I ordered this necklace. Despite the fact that the estimated delivery for it was for the beginning of September, they shipped it almost right away and it turned out to be just awesome, much longer than I thought, much brighter and just so oriental!
Wearing: romper by Costa Blanca, necklace by Amrita Singh, scarf by Oscar de la renta, sandals by Will's Fancy, canvas bag by Saks

Hello again!

2010-08-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Sorry for quite a long abscence - it's been a really hectic week and it's not even over yet! Graphically, it can be depicted as something very striped: a light stripe followed by a darker one which in its trun is followed by another stripe a few shadows lighter. But it's definitely exciting! In fact, I like it much better than getting stuck in one spot when nothing - nothing! - seems to be happening.
This outftit sort of illustrates my feelings about this striped, striped week lol
P.S. LiddieGal, please let me know when I should send your shoes. They're all ready and waiting! You can write me at marianna.branagh@yahoo.com.

Dress by Gusto Barcelona
Sandals by Espace
Silver chain necklace by Kenneth Jay
Glasses by Escada (what else is new there)
Hat by Laila Rowe

Shoe giveaway, round 2: the winner

2010-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce my shoe giveaway round 2 lucky winner. This time, it is the lovely Liddie from Chic on the Cheap http://chic-onthe-cheap.blogspot.com/
Congratulations! You always come up with amazing looks, and hopefully one day, these shoes will be part of them:)

I will post the pics of my next pair of shoes to be given away shortly, just as soon as I photograph them. So stay tuned!
To be continued...

Eazy'n lazy

2010-08-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

As much as I love accessorizing - and I really do - I still yield to my rahter lazy self every now and then and go the easy way. That is, opt for pieces that come pre-accessorized and thus require the very minimum amount of work in putting them all together in an outfit. In that respect, my absolute favourites are pieces with embroidery, beads, all kinds of glitzy stone etc.

I stumbled upon these sandals by my favourite J Renee (at http://www.6pm.com/) last summer and couldn't resist. And they are so comfortable too!

Dress by DecoV
Sandals by J Renee
Headpiece by Bolton's
Bracelet by Cache
Hobo bag by Oscar de la Renta

From day to night

2010-08-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

I bought this dress from Victoria Secret about a year ago, and only wore it casually at first. This summer, however, I decided to go a little bolder than usually and decided to dress it up a bit for this party that we were invited to. The result was quite unexpected: as it turns out, this dress is very versatile, and with a few extra accessories, can be transformed from day to evening wear with no extra problem at all.
P.S. Guys, don't forget the shoe giveaway http://astamundi.blogspot.com/2010/07/shoe-giveaway-round-2.html!

Dress by Victoria Secret
Sandals by Roger Vivier
Necklace by Gilt
Headpiece by Forever 21 (they have a regular Klondike for hair accessories over there, highly recommend!)

Sunset

2010-08-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Just found these pictures which we shot on the roof a few weeks ago. Sunset is such a magical time (even if you're not a vampire)!

And guys, don't forget the shoes giveaway http://astamundi.blogspot.com/2010/07/shoe-giveaway-round-2.html!
Dress by Bolton's
Wedges by Roger Vivier
Necklace by Laila Rowe
Sunglasses by Escada

Shoe giveaway, round 2

2010-07-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

It's July, 29 today and as promised, I'm announcing the winner of my first giveaway. The method selected this time was random drawing but for my next giveaway (still shoes) I might revive my numerical skills and choose a winner via random number generator.
So, today's winner is Vicky from the lovely Vicky's daily fashion blog (http://vickysdailyfashion.blogspot.com/. Congratualtion! I'm sure my shoes have found a good owner:)

More shoe giveaways are coming up since I have lined up quite a few pairs in need of new home, from size 7 to 8/5. Today the theme of my giveaway#2 are these lovely pumps by Gabriella Rocha, size 8 and brand-new.
The rules are just as simple:
-make sure you're a follower of my blog
-leave a comment under this post - anything at all.
Voila!
The winner will be chosen and announced next Friday, August 6. Good luck!

On hats and such

2010-07-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

I finally found the right fedora, almost at the end of summer! Even though it's super-popular this season, finding a hat that wouldn't look like it belongs on somebody else's head proved to be quite a challenge. But a couple of days ago, I was passing by Laila Rowe store, walked in and a few minutes later, emerged with my very first fedora. Of course, I had to wear it right away!
The dress (found purely by chance at http://www.smartbargains.com/) represents yet another of my favourite ongoing trends - super-maxi. It is seriously long, and I have to hold it at the side while walking. If I'm not carying anything heavy or bulky, it feels quite romantic:)

Wearing: dress by BCBG MaxAzria, fedora hat and bracelet Laila Rowe, wedges Emilio Pucci, sunglasses Escada

City after the rain

2010-07-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Amazingly, since last Friday, we got three thunderstorms, almost in a row in two of which we managed to get caught. Yesterday, it looked like we had all the chances to spend the day indoors - it was really coming down out there - but with the brave "Ah, what the hell!" we ventured outside, equipped with a huge umbrella and a waterproof case for the camera (once again, vanity prevailed). And it was amazing! Walking in the rain turns out to be so much fun, and when the rain is over, the city looks so refreshed and clean!

Those cobblestones are not as steady as they look.

Madison Avenue

Wearing: skirt Necessary Objects, top Burlapp, wedges Devani, bag Christopher Livingston, heandband Forever 21, bracelet Cache

Park Avenue sunset

2010-07-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

These pics were taken a few days ago, when we decided to take a short walk on the way home. Nothing fancy, but hot summer night, Park Avenue, and the last rays of sun.

Those bows are not as stable as they look, and require additional tieing up every now and then

Wearing: Byblos dress, Lucilla sandals, Saks bag, Rene Caovilla barcelet, random sunglasses

Twilight

2010-07-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Taking pictures in the dark is actually quite fun, especially doing so in the forest. In the abscence of which, a park would do perfectly. Viggo could pose as an Enchanted Dog - he doesn't mind, as long as he is taken to the dogrun right after the photoshoot. And he does everything in his power to make this magical moment arrive ASAP.

Wearing: Kenjo skirt, vintage top, Roberto Cavalli sandals, Forever 21 headband*

Giveaway, my first ever!

2010-07-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

Guys, I have an announcement to make: in the upcoming months, I will be having a series of giveaways for my followers!
During our renovations that are dragging along happily at a drunken snail's speed, I've discoved quite a few things that I bought at some point in the past, most of the time on impulse and never wore more than once, if at all. All those things - mostly shoes - are in excellent condition, it just so happens that them and I never clicked.
But now hopefully they can find a more appreciative owner.
So here are the rules, and they are as simple as rules can be:
-become a follower of my blog
-leave a comment under this post - anything at all, just whatever you feel like sharing
And in short ten days, July, 29 the winner will be chosen.
This giveaway's shoes-du-jour are these strappy sandals by Steve Madden, size 7.5, absolutely new.

Hot weather and mystery animals

2010-07-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

First, a few words on the mysterious animal from the previous post. The little bugger is a coatimundi (coati for short), she is three and she adores footwear and all other kind of wear she can find, sneak away and call her own. Together with Viggo, they form a small gang that poses a serious threat to my shoes that lay randomly around. But I have to admit, by now, our habbits have transformed so much that we rarely leave anything unattended - putting it away right after use (as well as closing all the dors, cabinets etc) has become almost automatic.
Now, on to the outfit. We had yet another scorcher today which I greatly enjoyed being able to wear my new dress by Vfish. The design is as open as one can wear in town without resorting to beachwear (although in the past few days, sarongs and swimsuits would've been very useful even in the street of Manhattan).

Wearing: dress Vfish, sandals Vigotti, sandom scarf and sunglasses

Urban Jungle

2010-07-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

I suddenly realized that our coati, being a very cute animal and a shoe addict like myself, hasn't got enough coverage in my blog so far. She turned the lights off when I was working on my computer today so I took it as a hint.

Wearing: skirt and tank top Victoria Secret, scarf Oscar de la Renta, bangle Cache, sandals Lowe, sunglasses Escada

Discover your rocker's side

2010-07-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

...and your favourite wedges. I mean, my favourite wedges, of course, slightly torn by the coati but still holding up pretty good. For about three years in a row! The only problem with them is that their level of comfortness changes all the time, from your-good-'ol-slippers to gee-I-should've-opted-for-something-comfier. I'm not sure how it happens but it's a mystery allright.

Wearing: wedges Emilio Pucci, random skirt, scarf Oscar de la Renta, tank top Victoria Secret, necklace Gilt, leather jacket BCBG MaxAzria, bag Givenchy, sunglasses Escada

Closet finds

2010-07-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Renovations are still going on, and I'm still diggin' out new old stuff or would-be-vintage things that due to my forgetfulness, have spent the past few years indoors (aka in the closet). But what a few years to a skirt, right? As long as it isn't falling apart, and because of lack of interraction with the coati, the things that I find are all in very good condition.Last weekend, my finds happened to be two skirts (both dating back to 2005) and a top (dating even earlier).

Wearing: skirt Max Studio, random top, sandals Will's fancy, headband Laila Rowe, bag Chloe

Wearing: skirt Polecci, same random top, sandals Vigotti, headband Laila Rowe, bag Chloe

Vintage-like

2010-07-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

This outfit consists of stuff that can in all honesty be considered vintage. Well, maybe almost vintage, but give it a few more years... Well, let's not look that far into the future. Where was I? Ah, the almost vintage, right. This dress was bought about five (gee..) years ago, and so were the sandals. And so were the purse and the scarf. I'm really surprised none of it was lost during our numerous moves around two different states.

Wearing: dress Victoria Secret, sandals Will's fancy, Japanese silk scarf, purse Inge Christofson, necklace BCBG Max Azria, random sunglasses

Roaming around town

2010-07-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

...in a very tight dress. Yes, this dress turned out to be just great for standing still, striking (not very challenging) poses or even making small moves but for running around Manhattan at my usual speed... khm... well, I'd say a pair of shorts would do much better. But I totally love the color - it's crushed tomato, it looks differently at the slightest change of light and it is definitely one of my favourite colors of all times. And oh, despite its tight silhouette, this dress can still be worn a la those long and serious dresses of the 19th century - by holding it at the side. It immediately turns from maxi into a somewhat midi but the mobility greatly improves.

Wearing:dress Dsquared, sandals Espace, bag Maddalena Marconi, suglasses Escada, bracelet Cache, necklace Bolton's

4th of July

2010-07-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

4th of July, tropically hot, barbecue over at friends' house. With all the renovations going on, it is no surprise that the dress that I was originally planning to wear - white, navy and red plaid holter - got misplaced. And so did the matching shoes. On the other hand, because of the same renovaitons, every now and then, I manage to find stuff that I toally forgot about. Like, for example, this dress which I pulled out of the closet at the very last minute; my fiancee was already losing his patience so I guess, had my search for the outfit taken any longer, I wouldn't be writing this post today.
Wearing: dress Rampage, shoes Devani, accessories Cache

Wild, wild animal print

2010-07-03T16:19:00.000-07:00

My order (first ever) from Forever 21 finally arrived, and I can honestly say, this site is sooo cool! I'm now their official fan; out of a few things that I ordered, there was nothing that I would want toreturn, and this skirt is one of my absolute favourites (and it was only $8!)

Wearing: skirt Forever 21, top Burlap, shoes Lanvin, headpiece Forever 21

Dreaming of Italy

2010-07-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

This hat that I bought a couple of weeks ago proves to be extremely versatile and goes together with a lot of things (or so it seems); the dress is new, from a company called Vfish and I think it has a certain Mediterranean feel about it. The sandals are almost vintage, although worn just a few times before 'cause they pinch, but could be forgiven because of the cute colors. And the no-less cute flower. But they still pinch!

Wearing: dress Vfish, sandals Via Spiga, hat Laila Rowe, necklace Bolton's, bag Jessica McClintock, sunglasses Escada

Super-mini-micro-cruise:Ikea

2010-06-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, with all the renovations going on and stuff, the inevitable happened: we took a trip to Ikea, my first trip ever to this blessed land of furniture, all kinds of home fixings, and more importantly, great Swedish chocolate and exotic fruit preserves. They even have gooseberry jam, the very same gooseberry that I rememebr from my childhood! Never liked it, though, but have always been fascinated by the color - translucent green.
Anyway, from Wall Street to Redhook, Brooklyn (where the New York Ikea is located) runs a water taxi - a cute little boat, yellow just like a regular New York cab but offerring you a much more pleasant ride.

This stylized bathroom has an incredible view over the Hudson river.

Taking pictures round Wall Street area was a unique experience for both of us: every singe person passing by, camping by or just hanging around there seems to have a camera or posing por a picture, and we were no exception. Feeling like a tourist in your own city felt reeeally weird lol

Wearing: dress Wishes Wishes Wishes, sandals Jimmy Choo, headband Bolton's, bangles Express and Laila Rowe, random sunglasses

Perfect weekend? Check!

2010-06-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Wearing: dress (that looks slightly like a romper but is a dress nevertheless) Hurley, sandals Isaac Mizrahi, necklace Bolton's, bag Saks, random sunglasses

Florals, episode 2

2010-06-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

The floral saga continues. This dress has a little bit of a history: I bought it two years ago, after a Sunday lunch with some friends resulted in me toppling over a whole glass of champagne - right on my carefully selected skirt. And all that because one of the friends mentioned that the chessboards incrusted in the tables were actual chessboards and there were also chess pieces stored in a special drawer right underneath the table top.
-Really?, - I slid my fingers into the long and narrow holes on both sides of the table and lifted the board, - Ouch!
I should've of course removed the wine glass before doing so but alas, this useful thought never actually crossed my mind.
Luckily, there is a Cache store right across the bar/restraunt where we were sititng so I just dashed in there and a few minutes later, emerged with this dress (luckily, they also had a sale going on).

Wearing: dress Cache, scarf Oscar de la Renta, sandals Roberto Cavalli, earings vintage, random sunglasses

My floral obsession

2010-06-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

As it turns out, I love florals. In fact, it has been one of my favourite obsessions lately, and this skirt - the result of a recent trip to Bolton's - is a vivid proof to that.

Oasis in the middle of Manhattan

The background is not exactly glamorous (we only noticed it when downloading the pictures on the computer) but that's what the city looks like after a long and busy day. But don't worry, it will be fresh and clean again in the morning!

Wearing: skirt Bolton's, top Le Chateau, flats Materia Prima, bag Chloe, sunglasses Spy Optics, headband Laila Rowe

Midweek getaway

2010-06-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

If you can believe the weather forecast by the House of Yahoo, my favourite kind of weather - 90s and up - is here to stay for the whole week. Yay!!! Naturally, it would be much more fun to go to the beach which I would do in the blink of an eye if I could but naturally, right now, it's impossible. So, as the closest approximation, we ventured to the nearest mini-park. Amazingly, Viggo doesn't mind the heat at all (which should mean that he is not a vampire if he wasn't so much into biting; need to get more conclusive evidence here).

Wearing: dress Ocean Splendid, shoes Betsey Johnson, Indian necklace, bracelet Rene Caovilla, headband Bolton's, sunglasses Escada

My favourite kind of weather

2010-06-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

To my greatest delight, yesterday we got another scorcher - 92F! Somehow, I noticed that very few people share my feeling about hot weather, seeking the safety of air-conditioned places and refusing to go outside before dark. Hmmm... are they all... vampires?!

Wearing: dress Johny Martin, sandals Lario and Roger Vivier (it was a strategic decision), hat Bolton's, sunglasses JLo

Something blue, something yellow

2010-06-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

It finally looks like a real summer: we have had a few 80s days in a row, and yesterday was no exception. Loving it!

Wearing: shorts Motivi, top Gi Gi Florence, hat and necklace Laila Rowe, clutch Anya Hindmarch, wedges Devani, sunglasses Escada

Friday night out

2010-06-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

These shoes are also new old, bought about five(!) years ago at Zappos. They come very close in color to the purple elements (or whatever they're called) of the dress so I just couldn't resist weearing the whole ensemble from the house to the party location but of course, I had to carry an extra pair of flats - just in case. And that was probably one of the wisest decisions I've ever made in my life (those shoes pinch!!!)

Wearing: dress OC by Oleg Cassini, shoes Donna Karan, headband and necklace Bolton's, bag Maddalena Marconi, random sunglasses

Unlisted, literally

2010-06-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

As I wrote a few days ago, the renovations in our apartments have officially commenced, and it's already a pain. The only good thing about them - f you don't count some potential improvements at some point in time - *heavy sigh* is the fact that in the process of emptying closets, storage boxes etc you suddenly find a lot of things that you totally forgot about. And since you haven't seen them in a while, they almost count as something new.
My most recent find are these plaid wedges from Unlisted. I bought them a few years ago but never wore - until now, and they're surprisingly comfortable and go together with many things in my wardrobe.

Wearing: tunic by Frenzii, cardigan by Victoria Secret, wedges by Unlisted, bag by Saks, random leggings, random sunglasses

In the streets of Manhattan

2010-06-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

More precisely, Manhattan's midtown, Park Avenue, where a lot of banks have their headquarters. It was fun wearing something totally casual, almost country-side-like although I do like business casual style as well and wear it whenever I have a chance.

Wearing: skirt by Confess, top by Express, flats by Cordani, bag by Chloe

Night on the boardwalk

2010-06-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

Later on that day.
When we came home, Viggo insisted on going for a walk - right away. As I found out, the MaxAzria necklace isn't the easiest thing to unfasten so I just wore it to the dogrun. Predictably, the dogs couldn't care less *sigh*.

Wearing: denim jacket by Domino, skirt by Joe Berbadette, top by Express, necklace by BCBG MaxAzria, ballet sneakers by La Bella Vita, bag by Saks.

Hectic, hectic, hectic

2010-06-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been really hectic. Frankly, so far, little has changed in that department:: projects that have enjoyed a rather unclear status for months in a row, all over sudden became very real and - the best part - each with a brand-new deadline. Oh, and have I mentioned that we are in the middle of apartment renovations? Aaaaaah!!!!!!
Anyhoo, we have been taken pictures diligently, and today, I even managed to give myself a kick and sort all of them out.
Here, I'm wearing a new hat by Leila Rowe and a new silk tunic by Adele Fado (with the combined value of $31); the rest of the outfit proved to be very versatile and have been used quite often recently.

Bloomberg building. The shape is really out-of-this-world and I remember getting dizzy the first few times I passed by. For whatever reason, you can't take pictures from within the inner plaza but cant shoot away from the street.

Wearing: silk tunic by Adele Fado, hat by Leila Rowe, sandals by Will's Fancy, necklace by BCBG MaxAzria, vintage-inspired skirt (seen from under the tunic) by Joe Berbadette, clutch by Inge Christopher, random sunglasses
to be continued...

Rainy weather, part 2

2010-06-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dav boots #2, abstract design (from the same batch).
I wasn't really sure which dress length would work best with it so I first paired it with a long dress (from my favourite Bolton's).

After running some errands it this outfit, though, I started having my doubts and on return home, changed into something shorter (vintage-like skirt and T-shirt from Strawberry). For added effect, I used a scarf (also from Bolton's) which sort of repeats the colors on the boots. Actually, that was the reason I bought it in the first place.

Viggo?! How you've changed, and it's only been two days!
Please, don't rub your eyes and stare at the screen at five different angles simultaneously: this lovely creature (I mean the one to the left and on the leash) is a bloodhound we met in Central Park. His name is Wimsey, he lives on the West Side, and as a truly modern dog, he has his own blog http://wimseyblog.blogspot.com

Viggo couldn't miss his chance and the two of them played for a while. Looked rather rough!

With all the playing, chatting, bouldering and inevitable picture taking, we stayed in Cetral Park till dark.

These buildings on the West Side always make me think of some enchanted castles from a fairy tale, the pond nearby just adding to the impression.

Wearing: vintage denim jacket, dress by Bolton's, skirt and T-shirt by Strawberry, rain boots by Dav, scarf by Bolton's, bag by Saks, sunglasses by Escada

Rainy weather

2010-06-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

We finally got some rain in the past few days. Normally, rain makes me gloomy but this time, it was quite the opposite: ideeli (www.ideeli.com) finally shipped my rain boots, still from Dav, still on sale and it was a good chance to try them outside.
There were better pictures taken the same night but as I was freeing some space on the memory card, I accidentally deleted them (damn!)

Pair #1, Firebird (or at least I think this might be one)

Wearing: dress by Ocean Splendid, denim jacket by Domino, bag by Saks, rain boots by Dav

Hiking in Central Park

2010-06-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I was waiting for my fiancee to finish at the gym and used that time to browse through summer sort-of sale at Daffy's (our local super-cool clothes retailer). The dress department had the most to offer, both in terms of wear and prices (which mostly ranged from $14 to $20). Despite all my attempts at frugality, that night, my wardrobe was enlarged a little bit more.
Here is one of the dresses that I bought, it has a slight vintage feel to it and it is one of my absolutely favourite colors this season, teal (the overall damage was $16.99).

The necklace is the same one that I posted yesterday (by BCBG MaxAzria).

Home Depot, more precisely its nursery is quite a good place to take pictures. The only thing to remember is not to pose next to a 50lb bag of compost but it's really not that hard.
Later that night, we took Viggo and a bouldering pad (a sort of matress that you're supposed to put on the ground while bouldering; if you should fall that will make it a little less unpleasant) and off we went to Central Park.

Hiking dog

I took this picture when we were returning home. To the left, there is Metropolitan Museum with tons of tourists which made Viggo, who is extremely social very happy. So many potential admirers right there!

Wearing: dress by You R the 1, denim jacket by Domino, sandals by Roberto Cavalli, necklace by BCBG Max Azria, bag by Saks

On second thought...

2010-06-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

This is another dress from ideeli (www.ideeli.com) which I bought after a month's deliberation. Luckily, they have recurrent sales for certain brands, and when I saw this dress again, I decided to give it a try. I had my doubts about the waistline because I'm more used to either a belt or just an A-line but as it seems, here a rushed waist is more appropriate.
The necklace is by BCBG MaxAzria (www.bcbg.com), a site that I stumbled upon purely by chance but happen to like it a lot.

Wearing: dress by Lucca Couture, sandals by Will's Fancy, necklace by BCBG MaxAzria, hairband by Bolton's

Elephant illusion

2010-06-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

Guys, thank you all so much for your wonderful comments, they made me very, very happy! It was one of the best birthdays I've evere had!

I finally made it to the computer and downloaded some pictures from yesterday (for a second time in two days, our computer is known for passive sabotage every now and then).

The top was actually advertised as a dress with an elephant print at ideeli (www.ideeli.com) but in reality turned out to be more like a tunic with some geometrical pattern. Even with my wild fantasy, I couldn't find anything elephant-related in the design, then again, maybe I should've looked at some different angle.
The wedges are from 6pm (www.6pm.com), another dangerous site which I should stay away from but all those sales that going on there make it absolutely impossible.

The wedges were $16.95, on a two-day sale and turned out to be super-comfortable. And they add about 3' to your height, something that I especially like.

Wearing: tunic (or dress?0 by Industry, leather leggings from Romeo and Juliet, wedges from Two Lips, bag from Maddalena Marconi, sunglasses by Escada, random bangles

Make a wish

2010-06-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

Just came home from celebrating my birthday. Our friends took us to a nice Japanese restaurant in Manhasset, which lies about fourty minutes away from New York. Manhasset is a cozy little town with tree-lined streets, people walking around at a leisurely pace, total absence of noise and a surprisingly large number of fashion boutiques. Seriously, I was amazed to see such a variety anywhere outside Manhattan but as my friend Natalie explained to me, Manhasset is called Long Island Madison Avenue. As they say, live and learn.

Blowing off the birthday candle. To my suprise, the cake doesn't get to hang around with guests. Right after you make a wish and blow off the candle, the waiters quickly take it away. I'm not even sure it was real but it definitely looked cute.

On stipes and such

2010-06-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad that nautical theme is back this season! I've been in love with it for years, ever since my grandmother gave me this absolutely adorable summer sailor suite with a white mini skirt and a wide-collar striped jacket. It even had a pair of golden anchors embroidered somewhere on the side pockets!
This year, my quest for stripes started rather early, some time in January. As it turned out, though, finding a nice-looking striped anything is not that easy. However, I didn't give up and my endless browsing, both online and in stores finally started to yield some results.
This dress was found at BCBGMaxAzria (www.bcbg.com), a brand that I had never tried before and didn't know much about but they had a perfect striped dress, both in my size and on sale and I couldn't resist. Rummaging through my closet produced a pair of striped sandals that I bought two years ago but haven't worn that much. All in all, it was a good striped day (whatever that means).
A motoscooter as an accessory, olive

A motorcycle as an accessory, red. I guess this one goes together wih the rest of the outfit better.

Now, this picture wasn't shot from behind some bush: it is the way it's supposed to be. It's artsy,-said my fiancee seeing a question mark in my eyes.

An allien cat Lola. She's not a part of our zoo but a co-owner of a local pet store. Well, at least she acts as if she might be.

Wearing: dress by BCBG Max Azria, sandals by Chanel, purse by Christian Livingston, sun glasses by Escada

V for Viggo

2010-06-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

This is a new member of our family. His name is Viggo, he is 3.5 months, and he is sooo cute! I sort of expected to see a chubby little bearlette but when the the cab pulled over, we opened the carrier and out there stepped this skinny creature with legs that would make Gisele Bundchen envious, small tail and no midsection! A 3 month old pup is kind of supposed to have a midsection, it's almost a rule! However, instead, Viggo can boast a thin waistline. And a voracious appetite!
As of now, his favourite activities include: demanding food, demanding everyone's attention (yes, he just stops in the street when he sees people and waits till they start showing their admiration for him), chasing the coati around (she doesn't mind at all but tries to play by her own rules) and cheweing on everything remotely chewable. And oh yes, I nearly forgot: just like the coati and myself, he is very much into shoes, that's why our renovations and especially building a new closet should now go really fast!

Viggo and my favourite sandals by Will's Fancy. Turns out, Viggo fancies them, too so now I have to make sure they are put somewhere he can't reach.

Where's the rain, or the importance of not being gullable

2010-05-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

They said it was going to rain yesterday and strangely enough, I believed it. Of course, I should've stepped out on the balcony to check out the real weather before leaving the house but somehow, this simple thought never crossed my mind. Thus the oufit. Well, let's just say among the summery-dressed people of Manhattan, I guess I looked like a tourist from Iceland. On the bright side, I got another chance to wear my coi fish rain boots. From Dav. With love.

Wearing: rain boots by Dav, denim parka by XCVI 1828, skirt by Joe Berbadette, headband by Bolton's

Almost summer!

2010-05-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

This is actually one of my favourite summer dresses; I bought it a few years ago, back in those times when Smartbargains (http://www.smartbargains.com/) still had cute stuff and good deals every now and then. The deals are still there, at least I receive all those enticing e-mails from them on a regular basis but I haven't seen anything even remotely interesting there in quite a while.
Anyway, the dress dates back to 2005, is made by Tibi and cost (I just can't not brag!) $19. The only drawback is its somewhat strange construction: the dress has boning on the sides and a zipper that seems to be sewn straight into it. I know it's impossible but in any case ~~there are 24 beers~~, it is very close by and zipping it up is not an easy matter. But today, I did it! Frankly, I just had no choice: that was the only decent oufit I could come up with that didn't require extensive digging in the closet.

Wearing: dress by Tibi, sandals by Claudia Ciutti, headband by Bolton's

Strawberry's fields

2010-05-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, when I had to dash to Best Buy for a replacement for our computer, picking it out was not the only challenge that I had to face: on my way to the computer heaven, I was passing Strawberry's and although I normally try to give myself a good kick and hurry past the store as quickly as I can this time, I just knew it was not going to happen. An dit didn't. Now, Strawberry's as well as a very similar store called Bolton's is a retailer chain with stores all around Manhattan. They sell some very cool stuff and if you have time to browse and dig, you can pick up a few amazing pieces every season. Oh, and don't forget thte best part - the prices: most of the stuff is around $30 or less and they have sales all the time. Splendid.
Since my willpower was at its lowest after the mishap with the computer, I couldn't just convince myself that it wasn't really Strawberry's but a mere hallucination and about an hour later, emerged from this blissefull place carrying a bag with the newest addition to my summer wardrobe - a skirt, two nautical-like tops and a headband (the whole thing was about $40!). The sandals were a present for my birthday three years ago and although I have been wearing them for three seasons straight and am going to the fourth one now, they hold up surprisingly well.

Escaping in style (I was runing out of ideas for the photos)

Wearing: vintage inspired lace skirt and nautical top (both from Strawberry's), straw hat from Bolton's, LV sandals.

Hectic!

2010-05-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

Monday was one of those full-speed, overly eventful days that you totally enjoy but feel totally exhausted by early evening. In included, among many other things, express finishing of a couple of projects, past due beyond belief, a business lunch with a potential editor and a dentist appointment. Add to that an exciting hunt for a cab in the middle of Manhattan, in the middle of an afternoon, sprinting around in 4 inch heels (ouch!) and a constantly ringing phone and you'll understand why when I finally got home, my only wishes were a glass of wine and a bubbly bath but alas, those dreams were unattainable. We were invited to a party downtown and since it had been a serious while since we last attended something that joyful, we just had to go. Figuring that showing up at the party with the camera would be weird even for us, we took pictures before we left for the event.

Wearing: satin trench by Bebe, shoes by Donna Karan Collection, floral tights by Hue, hairband by Bolton's.

A day without internet

2010-05-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

Last night, out computer decided it couldn't take it anymore and turned itself off. My attempts to bring it back to life were totally fruitile: the screen remained as black as summer nights in Main and after an hour or so of calling friends, pressing all possible buttons and profound cursing I gave up and called it a day. It was too late to dashout to our local Best Buy for a substitution so I just poured myself some wine, dug out all those magazines that had been piling up for the past month, unread and even unopen and plonked on the bed with the coati. For a change, the little bugger wasn't after any shoes and actually didn't mind spending the night indoors.
Gee, not being able to check my email or even turn on the radio felt So Weird!!! On the bright side, though, I read the most recent New Yorker, almost in full and browsed an Architectual Digest (to which I subsrcibed by a terrible mistake). In fact, it was fun.
Now, about the outfit: the pictures were taken this afternoon, after several attempts to revive the computer, visiting Best Buy, visiting Strawberry's (retail store) on the way home and looking forward to setting up a new laptop - all by myself! Don't mind my expression: I didn't know if I would be able to get internet today thus the pround sorrow. But I did!!! And we have it again!!!

Wearing: safari (ish) jacket by Fiber, jeans by Take Two, scarf by Oscar de la Renta, boots by Giuseppe Zanotti

What might befall on those shoes if left unattended...

2010-05-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterdady, I made a mistake of not putting my shoes away right after I got home (something that you really have to do in our abode) and this morning, they caught the attention of our shoe-loving animal. The little bugger waited till I got into the shower and chewed off one of the bows on the front. Actually, being a generous animal, she only chewed off half, leaving the turquoise half for me to experiment with. Turning the shoe that had just received a make-over in my hands, I had but two choices: a) freak out (useless) b) pretend that half a bow is actualy not such a bad thing to have (well, it's definitely better than having none at all). *trying to convince myself* Besides, there's nothing wrong with a little modern twist on a good ol' shoe, right? Right?
Anyhoo, today I opted for something sturdy and not-that-easily-destructable. As you can see, there isn't much to tear off or munch on, for that matter.

Wearing: dress by Victoria Secret, sandals by Robert Clergerie, jewelry by Cache, sunglasses by Escada.

Part Deux

2010-05-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the weather in New York has improved considerably and we can now toss trenches for various cropped wear. Just hope it'll stay this way for a while - I'm totally OK with heat but can't stand cold.

My recent shopping obsession is 6pm (www.6pm.com) - the friend who actually hooked me up on this site has probably been giglling maliciously ever since: they have sales almost every day, tons of cool stuff and very attractive prices (during sales, of course). Even if I would like to abstain from hanging out there on a daily basist, so far I have not been able to do, they're just way too addictive!
My recent purchase from 6pm - jeans skirt by Adriano Goldshmiedt, worn for the first time today. The rest of the outfit was bought a while ago and includes: shoes by Christian Lacroix, top by Les Copain Jeans, glasses by JLo, bangle by Cache. Oh, and I nearly forgot - the headpiece is also new, from my Saturday night loot at Bolton's (at $3.49, it's my best deal ever!)

2010-05-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

First of all, I received my very first blog award! I'm sooo excited and very garteful to Tann from http://www.chechetan.blogspot.com/ who chose me for this award.

Since the rule is to pass it on to five more bloggers I wrote to five people who in their turn, will receive the reward. For added mystery, I'm not going to reveal their names here, instead, let's just wait for them to show up and manifest themselves, on their own time, unexpectedly, just like a tax audit:) I think it's gonna be much more fun this way! So,

You just wait! (c) My Fair Lady

to be continued...

Nice little things that make you smile (c)

2010-05-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, our local retail store Bolton's (there are a few of them all around town) turns into a regular Klondike. One day, you walk in and discover a huge selection of summerwear, all very cute and all under $30; then weeks pass by with little change in the merchandise until one day they stock up on something fabulous again. No warning, just a nice little surprise every now and then.
Last Saturday, the thing-du-jour was hairwear, tons and tons of various headbands, clips, flowers, would-be-tiaras etc. Needless to say that after about an hour spent browsing the store (and that felt just like ten minutes)I walked home with a huge shopping bag that said Bolton's, in huge white letters.

Wearing: Anne Klein floral coat, La Redoute shorts and striped top, Chanel pumps, Barbara da Milano bag, Bolton's headband

...Or have you spent the rest of the afternoon accessorizing?

2010-05-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's funny how in the past year or so, the number of accessories that I own and actually use on a regular basis (not counting shoes and bags, of course) has gone from just a few to quite a few. And I'm constantly on the outlook for more! What I really like about them is that they offer you an "instant beautification": throw on a scarf or a chunky necklace and even the most drab of my sweaters will immediately go a couple of knotches up (instead of igoign straingt nto that would be recycling hamper).

My new find from Bolton's: pale pink and plum scarf.
Wearing: jacket by Motivi, jeans by Dsquared, scarf by Bolton's, shoes by Etro

Somewhere deep deep in the closet...

2010-05-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, browsing through your closet's contents can be so fun! All over sudden, while making your way through all those numerous hangers and simultaneously dogging those treacherous boxes from the shelves Far Far Beyond, you stumble upon something you forgot all about and for which you nearly bought a replacement. And now you don't even need it ~~and can spend the saved money on something else!~~
Long live the ever cluttered closet, an endless source of entertaintment and new and wonderful finds!

Wearing: leather jacket Elements by Vakko, jeans by Take Two, sandals by Nancy Geist, scarf by Oscar de la Renta, bag by Barbara da Milano

And if you need friends, just call out

2010-05-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

This skirt made its way into my closet under some rather strange circumstances: we were shopping with my fiancee (doesn't happen too often 'cause he just can't stand this activity) and he actually insisted that I bought it. I tried to protest saying that my skirt count was already too high (again, very unusual, no, I take that back - almost impossible to imagine) but he wouldn't listen to any of that. So the skirt was purchased and brought home. Now, as anybody knows, closet inhabitants commonly known as various s...sshshs...OK stuff just can't stand being alone and keep calling for new friends. This time was no exception so soon the rest of the outfit as seen on the pics followed into our Manhattan-size closet which has been defying the laws of space for as long as I can remember.

The outfit: skirt by Bomb Boogie, top by Yank, tights by Falke, canvas wedges by Christian Louboutin, bag by Oscar de la Renta, vintage Japanese scarf

Jeudi, le 13 mai

2010-05-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

As if making up for yeasterday's rough patch, the weather today was very sunny, warm and truly spring-like. Today, it was easy to believe your own eyes, the calendar and that ~~slightly annoying~~ very persistent French radio that insisted on reminding its listeners of today's date and day of the week - every fifteen minutes - just in case.
Aujourd'hui est jeudi, le 13 mai... Voila!
No kiddin'...

Stormy weather

2010-05-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, it was this cold today: add to that heavy rain for most of the day which eventually turned into a rather dreary drizzle and I guess my today's choice of wear will not look that ... khm... strange for mid-May. In fact, right now, I'm sitting at my computer wearing a thick sweater and Uggs and I'm still cold!

Wearing: leather shealing by Pasha & Jo, dress by VS, boots by Mariani, random tights

Back into the 40-s, or Play it again, Sam

2010-05-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Still experimenting with that 1940-s style, or rather my version of it. The weather being rather...khm... chilly in the past few days actually helps and I even got another chance to wear a hat. I guess I shouldn't complain, afterall.

Chilly afternoon walk

2010-05-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

The weather in New York is even moodier than myself: one day, it might be 90s and a super-mini-sundress - just to turn into shivering 50s and two parkas the day after. And I'm not just making it up - it's based on the true story of this very weekend!
But be as it may, it was still a good day for a walk in Central Park, a chilly and sunny early May New York afternoon.
Wearing: Alessandro del Aqua boots, Qi boucle coat, Country Gentlemen hat, Victoria Secret sweater dress, Oscar de la Renta bag

Blue dress

2010-05-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

The history of this dress (by Vivien Tam) has always been somewhat complicated. I bought it from Neiman Marcus (http://www.neimanmarcus.com/) about three years ago falling in love with the picture (the fact that it was on sale also helped). I'm not sure how they do sizing over there at Vivien Tam but the actual size of the dress had nothing to do with the one embroided on the label.
Nowadays, I would gladly send it back praising myself on frugality (yeah, I'm aware of the oxymoron) but three years ago, I alaways preferred to give a newly bought thingy another chance (yeah, I'm aware of the stupidity of the approach).
Anyhow, the dress was finally fixed and just two short years later, finally got its chance to see the world.

Because of the lacy bodice and the length, I think it has a slight 1940-s feeling.

The shoes are Lanvin, tracked down at YOOX (http://www.yoox.com/)

Those good 'ol things...

2010-05-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

This dress is one of those things that you buy purely by chance and then just keep wearing year after year. Without getting tired of and even without looking for a replacement commonly known among my friends as "something similar but different" (I still can't figure that phrase out).

Over the years, I bought a few pairs of shoes to match the dress (figures) as well as some jewelry and am currently looking for a purse. The purse is actually a challenge: I'm trying to navigate away from huge hobos (which I like so much 'cause they fit an enormous amount of s... stuff) and towards smaller and more careless versions, for example clutches but so far, over-the-night carry-alls prevail.

Wardrobe consists of: floral dress by La Belle, sandals by Christian Louboutin, jewelry by Cache, cropped cardigan by Rene Lezard

Still on the yellow theme: Roberto Cavalli

2010-05-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

Wore my new Roberto Cavalli slingbacks for the first time today. Despite the almost 5' heels, they're strangely comfortable and the yellow color is just as vivid as I always wanted to find. All in all, I'm glad I decided to buy them at one of those unexpected sales at the Outnet (http://www.theoutnet.com/). The skirt (by Kenjo) is also new, bought after a few months of deliberation and close monitoring. Also very comfortable and I just love the cut and all the detailing!
On a not that bright note, I nearly lost my favourite sun glasses today. I never knew it's possible to lose something in your own bag! And yet, mine seems to have some sort of a built-in black hole in it. Spooky...

Yellow?

2010-05-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

The yellow and I have always had a rather strange relationship. I like it a lot, in fact, I like all the shadows, semi-shadows and even the most weird or imperceptible hues of yellow that I've come across so far. Yet, its share in my wardrobe is rather limited.
Here's my attempt to make up for it. Yellow kettle.

Yellow shoes (with zebra print as a tribute to the new season's most favourite trends - not much but I did what I could)

Yellow cars. The mini isn't mine but we hailed one of those yellow cabs on the background to get home. Again, we did what we could.

Wardrobe: top by Strawberry, jeans capri by Hue, sandals by Goffredo Fantini, random scarf, hobo bag by Givenchy, glasses by Escada

Fort Tryon

2010-05-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we went to Fort Tryon - the neighborhood we used to live in a few years ago but haven't visited in a serious while. Well, the park is still there, as beautiful as it has always been and so is the castle; everything is lucsiously green and blooming and it seemed like it was still 2003, a nice little trip back in time...

There is also some good bouldering there which my fiancee couldn't miss.

Wardrobe: safari dress by NY and Co, sandals by Robert Clergerie, messenger bag by Christian Louboutin, scarf by Oscar de la Renta

And even if it rains...

2010-04-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

These are in fact my very first rain boots since the time I was in grade school. To my great surprise, they turned out to be perfect cross-town boots - after a hike through Central Park, I was still able to walk another ten blocks or so and it felt perfectly fine. From Gilt (http://www.gilt.com/) with love.
Boots by Dav, suede shorts by Marena, sweater by les Copains, hairscarf by H&M.

On the streets of Manhattan

2010-04-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

It was somewhat chilly today but spring in definitely setting in, you can feel it! Besides, I finally made it to the Greek parade and felt really nostalgic over the years we spent in Astoria (Greek neighbourhood in New York).

Wearing: suede coat by Tryst, boots by Zamagni, dress by Take out, bag by Prada, necklace by Leila Rowly, sunglasses by Roberto Cavalli

Playing with the light

Paparazzi are everywhere!

Photos by Dmitry Naidionov

Rediscovering my Scottish side

2010-04-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

My rain boots collection continues to grow; recently, I got these plaid ones (MIA) from 6pm (they were on sale!) and tried them on today with the Motivi skirt that I bought a long, long time ago but rarely get a chance to wear. Hopefully, now it's going to change - they promise rain for the next few days and I have all my weekend already booked up.
Wanna find a matching plaid umbrella!!!
Yeah, I know it's gonna be too much plaidness for one person but I'm allowed to dream, right?
Wearing: rain boots by MIA, skirt by Motivi, leather jacket by Pasha & Jo, tote by Saks

That 80-s show

2010-04-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

This outfit was a surprise even for myself. Let's just say I'm not a big fan of the 80-s in terms of fashion but when I saw this oversized sweater (or a short seater dress?) I couldn't resist. The velour leggings were also a rather unusual addition to my wardrobe but they (and the sweater)l are just so incredibly comfortable and relaxing! Not good for those having to operate heavy machinary, though; I had to change into something else before taking Babay for a walk.
Wearing: oversized sweater by French Connection, velour leggings by Victoria Secret, cowboy-ish boots by Gianni Barbato, scarf by Oscar de la Renta.

Versatility

2010-04-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Some things prove to be extremely versatile. You might not know that at the time of purchase but then you just keep wearing it - again and again - and eventually even have to remind yourself to give other stuff in your wardrobe a chance. Come on! They need to get out too! This outfit of mine is combined - purely by accident, of course - of such versatile things.
Wearing: dress by Strawberry, leather jacket by Pasha & Jo, ballet flats by Dolce Vita, tights by Hanes

Bordeaux (and cianti)

2010-04-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

My yesterday's take on business casual. I just found this jacket and had to incorporate it into an outfit, the Victoria Secret sheath dress and the rest of the paraphernalia came in handy as well. The shoes are on the waiting list for a place in the closet and thus camping in the hall; due to this reason, in the past couple of weeks, I have been wearing them more often than in the past three years put together. Strangely, the coati who loves shoes just as much as I do (tearing the soles off them every time she gets a chance) has been ignoring them so far. Are they... not cute?!

Wearing: long coat by Rebecca Rej, suede pumps by Stuart Weitzman, bag by Prada, sheath dress by Victoria Secret, scarf by Oscar de la Renta

Mood bright

2010-04-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for something bright hence the colors.
Wearing: trench Michael by Michael Kors, scarf by Oscar de la Renta, sandals by Rene Caovilla

Saturday night live

2010-04-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

Last night, my friend was hosting her birthday party at Juliet - a night club on Manhattan's West side. Needless to say, I was late again, nearly breaking my own record as of a few months ago - 45 minutes! Gee, I really got to do something about that, probably put it on my New Year resolution list for the upcoming year. Yeah, that's right, that definitely seem like a plan.
In the meantime, party night, Juliet and me wearing a 50-s-inspired outfit.

Wearing: Chetta B satin dress, Chanel pumps

Howdy!

2010-04-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day of many discoveries. Not only did I manage to find the trench that I wanted - almost right away - but in the same closet, there were also the shoes, the purse and even the sunglasses to match (haven't seen those in a a while)! And I didn't even have to run around and curse.

Wearing: trench by Bebe, suede pumps by Etro, purse by Neiman Marcus, sunglasses by Jennifer Lopez

Some doors are just meant to be opened...

2010-04-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken the day after the Biking in the city (around the Greek restraunt). I've got to say, Dmitry has an amazing patience. We were shooting for about two hours straight, at different locations and even trying different variants of the same (very basic!) outfit. I would've flipped a long time ago but he didn't.
Thank you, Goga!!!

Wearing: silver flats by J Renee, trench by Bebe, bag by Maddalena Marconi

Bike night out

2010-04-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, things that you didn't even think about come in very handy. Like, for example, somebody's bike that was just standing there minding its business until we got out of the restraunt and Dmitry who agreed to take my pictures saw it and immediately put me next to it. My new bag (with a jewelry-incrusted handle, nonetheless!) that was supposed to be (and was) part of the outfit ended up in the bike's basket.
-?!
-That's how I see it, that's part of the image, you know - was telling me Dmitry clicking away - And don't argue with the photographer!
And guess what? I'm glad that I didn't - it was the right thing to do and on so many levels:)

Wearing: brocade coat by Collection 7, ankle boots by Jimmy Choo, black romper by Manoush

Military mood

2010-04-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

As it turned out, I have another military-style item in my wardrobe (this spring cleaning isn't totally useless, after all). This time, it's trench by A.M.M found in one of the closets this morning and immediately incorporated into today's outfit.
Our lazy dog firmly refused to go to the park trying to camp down at his favourite bus stop instead and searching support from passing by New Yorkers. But just short fifteen minutes later, we reached an agreement and were on our way.

Don't look at the hair, it was windy this morning

Easter bunny

2010-04-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

I saw this 60s-style hat at Daffy's (a New York-based outlet/retail store) about a year ago, together with some other stuff, of course - you just can't walk out of that store empty-handed, not unless you have a titanium-strength willpower. I have to say that in terms of fashion, 1960s are among my absolute favourite time periods and in my wardrobe, I have a few pieces that are either 1960s-inspired or date back to those times.
This hat, however, has been sitting in my closet for quite a while before I had a chance to wear it but ever since I have been wearing it quite often. Like, of example, today when we were invited to an Easter lunch over to some friends'.
Babay who was far more interested in lunch reluctantly agreed to pose with me.

(Top by Leifsdottir, skirt by Alexander Mcqueen, pumps by Donna Karan, faux fur jacket by Nuage)

Rain boots, another addiction

2010-04-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

Not that long ago, I did not have rain boots in my wardrobe. At all. Exactly how that happened is still a mystery to me. Every spring and every fall, when rains would open their season and I would be soaking in my sneakers while walking Babay around the block, I would promise to myself to finally get (at least) one pair of rain boots. I mean, those are basic necessity, right?
Then I would come back home, open the closet, dodge yet another shoe box falling from an overly cluttered shelf and my determination to further increase my overly abundant shoe collection would start to wane.
But this spring Gilt had a sale for Dav boots, I couldn't resist (both the design and the price) and when they finally arrived one look at them turned me into a devoted rain boots-holic. OK, that probably didn't come out right. Let's just call it rain footwear adept.
Exhibit #1, rain boots with golden fish (and something that looks like algae).

Still not over missing my second cup of coffee this morning.

(Rain boots by Dav, dress by Vctoria Secret, leather jacket by Pasha & Jo)

On laziness and such

2010-04-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Our dog is very lazy. At the same time, being raised in New York, he is a rather glamorous animal who loves attention and I'm sure has My Fans page somewhere on Facebook. All those factores combined, to regular doggi walks around the neighborhood he prefers sitting somewhere conspicuous, with the greatest number of people, dogs, cars etc passing by. This way, he doesn't have to do anything to be in the center of things happenning - just pick out a good spot, plant yourself firmly there (Babay, come on! Come oooon!!! It's been half an hour already, how long can we stay here?!) and you're part of Manhattan busy life right away.
Today, I decided to combine that, no doubt, wonderful activity (at least from Babay's point of view) with some photoshooting.

Mexican stand

Are you done there yet? I need to move to another spot.

( Parka Kors by Michael Kors, suede ankle boots by Guiseppe Zanotti, random tights(c) Barbro Andersen and a serious golden chain by Leila Rowly)

That Bogart influence

2010-03-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

To my own surprise, my today's outfit has a slight 40-s feel: I guess all those Humphrey Bogart movies that I have been watching the whole winter are finally starting to sink in. I do realize that to pin that style down, I would need, among other things, a hat and a pair of gloves (and they were also very pro-small purses back in the 40-s) but as I said, the outfit has a feeling rather than complete resemblance.

The bag (by Maddalena Marconi) arrived yesterday; luckily, I forgot to put it away so this morning, I didn't have this "last accessory" dilemma as I so often do.

Mood plaid

2010-03-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

With the gloomy weather for like the third day in a row, I felt a strong need to brighten it up. I really had to do that, ASAP, before my mood reached the below zero level! For an immediate effect, red was chosen; besides, it was a nice opportunity to try and combine it with bordo - something I always wanted to do but never actually did. Until today.
Also, I just received these absolutely insane plaid tights ( by Ellen Tracy) from barenecessities and it seems like I need more of those!

Jacket by Alexander McQueen, bordo pumps by Stuart Weitzman, plaid tights by Ellen Tracy)

Rainy Sunday

2010-03-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

It's rather gloomy out there today, one of those days when you have to keep drinking coffee all day long just to stay barely awake.

Wearing Stewart Weitzman boots (denim + studs + cowboy look + the whole shebang); I bought these at Bluefly a couple years ago but so far, have rarely got a chance to wear. I still can't figure them out! But I have to admit, they are extremely comfortable.

Coat - Zara
Dress - Victoria Secret

You're in the army now!

2010-03-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

It seems like military trend is planting itself firmly in the world of fashion this upcoming season and I'm so glad that it is! Even if I've never had anything camouflage in my wardrobe (the closest approximation being a summer tote that was part of some promotion at Neiman last year), I always loved a 19th century-inspired cropped military jacket - with embroidery, of course! It makes an istantly fab outfit if combined with tight pants, tall boots or even classic pumps. So many things to try (on)!
My take on military trend (leather pants from Blank, jacket from La Rock - both bought at Cusp, belt from Nanni and my long-loved booties from Goffredo Fantini)

Goffredo Fantini boots: close up

Antonio Banderas mood: Z vor Zappos!

Blanc Noir, or spring is taking a detour again

2010-03-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

It's cold again! Gee, I just can't believe this weather. But on the bright side, I just received a new shearling (Blanc Noir) from Overstock - that site is amazing, totally recommend to anyone.
P.S. I was on the phone most of the time while shooting so it somehow made its way into some of the pictures. Wazen't planned, though!

Coat - Blanc Noir
Leggings - Romeo&Juliet
Boots - Fornarina
Glasses - Escada

Experiments

2010-03-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Keep experimenting with our new camera. And my almost-new leather leggings (ordered two more pairs from Bluefly but UPS combined with USPS... gee, I just hope I will get my package one day, maybe even this week).

I bought the cardigan from La Redoute. Too bad they closed their US operations - they always had cool stuff and sales. The boots are Rene Caovilla and the top is also La Redoute (almost vintage) - I totally forgot that I even had it until today when I found it in the drawer. The belt is my favourite Nanni.

The fashionista dog

2010-03-22T18:26:00.000-07:00

My fiancee got this T-shirt a while ago from one of their clients. Apparently, the guys wanted to make a large gesture and gifted accordingly - all the T-shirts ranged from XLarge to XXLarge.
Here, Babay (171lb) is modeling it (for a small renumeration).

What, you never seen a dog in a T-shirt before?!