Owl Bandwagon

From notepads to paperweights, vases to pocket watches, owls are everywhere these days (and would you believe it if I told you that I'm the proud owner of all of the aforementioned pieces? Though if you've read this blog before, then you might not be all that surprised). When uber cool London design house Burberry sends cozy owl-adorned sweaters down the Fall 2012 runway, you know it's a trend worth jumping on. Hop aboard if you want to be super chic like Burberry....and yours truly (ha!). 

{Images via Garance Dore}

Best Dressed

Did anyone look more radiant and chic than Emma Stone in her Lanvin gown at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards? And what's not to love about that eagle belt? 

{Images via Stylebistro}

Getting Frisky

Lately I'm coveting some leopard pieces to integrate into my fall wardrobe. Leopard can be a bit tricky - it's far too easy to veer into trampy territory - but when done right, it can look exceptionally chic. Rose Byrne knows what I'm talking about.

{Image via Go Fug Yourself}

Downton Abbey

I hopped on the Downton Abbey bandwagon real late (I tend to do that with books and music, too). What can I say? I tend to eschew the hype because I'm generally a skeptical person by nature and usually hype isn't worth the interest (case in point: there's a reason why I haven't watched one second of The Jersey Shore). But sometimes I'm wrong. It took me years to start reading Harry Potter and then once I did, I fell for the books hook, line and sinker. Same goes with the Masterpiece production of Downton Abbey. It has all the makings of compelling television: the high drama, the lavish costumes and decedent set decorations, the intricately-drawn characters, excellent pacing and captivating plotlines, even the time period is fascinating (the series starts on the day the Titanic sank and spans the years leading up to WWI, a period of time that saw dramatic political and social change, and the ushering in of the modern era). The acting is superb; Dame Maggie Smith is a personal favorite, the lady has the best quippy lines. Since I got a late start, I was able to watch the series in its entirety in one go on Netlix. Now I have to wait until the second season airs in January. Boo hoo (lucky Brits get to watch all the drama unfold on the BBC this fall). January can't come soon enough.

{Photos of the ravishing blueblood Crawley sisters via Note to Self}

Perfect Summer Tote

Behold the perfect summer tote. Ideal for beach days, school days, and every day in between.

Bonus: The bag is handcrafted by artisans in Kenya and is a fair trade product.

{Image via Madewell}

The Stuff of Fairytales

Last Friday, like countless other questionably insane Americans who eschewed a restful night's sleep for a little bit of storybook glamour, I stayed awake through the wee hours of the morning to watch the live televised broadcast of the English royal wedding of Prince William and his bride Kate Middleton (now officially the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). I have to admit, it was rather fun to participate in something so historical, so teeming with importance (depending on your view of the British monarchy and its place in society, of course; being an American and therefore rather like an observer looking into a very colorful fishbowl, I am somewhat intrigued by the royal family). I doubt I will ever do the same for another event of this calibre ever again, so I figured I may as well try it on for size now. And I have no regrets. Despite - or maybe even because of - the state of the world right now, it's a lovely thing to witness an act of true love on such a grand, magnificent scale.

But apart from all that, it's just fun watching a parade of pretty, flowy dresses and fantastical hair adornments in what can only be described as a circus act of colossal proportions. Best of all, the bride looked exquisite in her Alexander McQueen gown, designed by Sarah Burton. Elegant, graceful, and serene, Kate was already a queen before it was made official last week. I wish them both much luck and love.

P.S. The grumpy bridesmaid in the first photo just might be my favorite part of all - the icing on a deliciously decadent wedding cake.

{Images via NY Mag}

Street Chic

I love the cozy insouciance of a wooly gray scarf draped over the shoulders just so. The layering of the leather motorcycle jacket with the grandpa cardi makes for a cool, interesting juxtaposition. And the graphic handbag adds a bit of blingy texture that ties it all together. Simple and effortless.

And then you have my fashion idol. Enough said.

{Images via here and here}

Nailed It

The ravishing Mila Kunis nailed it at last night's SAG awards. Hands down best-dressed of the night, in my opinion. She looked lovely, ethereal and goddess-like in her gauzy Alexander McQueen gown. I'm so looking forward to seeing what she has in her bag of ticks for the upcoming Oscars!

Who do you think was best-dressed of the night?

{Image via PopSugar}

Mulberry in Africa

Oh, to be a leopard-print Mulberry handbag. Relaxing on the plains of Africa, basking in the balmy sunshine, coming thisclose to being eaten alive by a lion....

...Or perhaps just taking a nap with one.

Who else longs to go on an African safari someday? It's definitely on my list of things to do before I die. Looking at these photos makes me want to break out my yet-to-be-read copy of Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa AND my Mulberry Elgin bag (scored at a Nordstrom sale many moons ago). And rock them both at the same time. Because I'm odd like that. :-)

P.S. I heart Mulberry and this leopard-print handbag. In that order.

{Images via Mulberry}

Sweater Weather

Today is cold, gray, and drizzly (my kind of weather) and all I really feel like doing is cozying up in a great big, warm, woolly sweater, preferably of the grandpa variety. With a mug of hot cocoa and a book of ghost stories in my lap (talk about perfect rainy day afternoon). Lo and behold, I found some snuggly sweaters that fit the bill courtesy of--who else?--J.Crew.

{Images #1, 2, 3, 4 via J.Crew}

Favorites from Spring 2011

Another Fashion Week (more like month, really) has come and gone. There was a distinct 70's vibe at a lot of the collections, and lower, more elegant hemlines were everywhere (something I personally favor and appreciate). Two runway collections particularly stand out to me: Fendi and Jason Wu. Below are some of my favorite looks from their Spring 2011 collections.

I heart the vibrant color palette at Fendi. It's very Kindergarten teacher circa 1974 (in the best way possible). There's an ease to the clothes that I find incredibly appealing, and I love how the bright lipstick acts as a sort of punctuation mark.

If I were to become a millionaire over night and had the sort of day-to-day existence where fabulous soirees and designer clothing were a reality, I would turn to Jason Wu, my sartorial guru. Glamourous, feminine, and totally luxe, his clothes would be a dream to wear. I imagine Holly Golightly would go nuts for his designs.

A girl can dream...

{Photos via Style.com}

Inspiration from the boys

I really need to start shopping in the little boys' section. This darling little cable knit sweater is from crewcuts. Who knew? And oh, how refreshing it is to see a skirt NOT cut up to you-know-where. Never mind the fact that I would undoubtedly end up resembling a librarian should I ever try this look at home. But that may just be exactly the look I am going for (take that, T!). I love the colors, textures, and how the luxe black bag ties it all together. SWOON.

{Image via The Sartorialist}

The Fashion Line

It's Fashion Week in New York, and for the duration of this crazy week-long extravaganza, the No.1 subway line has been temporarily changed to, drumroll please, "The Fashion Line". Nice to see the city get into the spirit of things, isn't it?

{Image via Jezebel}

Hello, Polyvore

I realize that I'm hopping on the Polyvore bandwagon a little late, but now that I'm finally here I don't want to get off. Ever. I'm having way too much fun exploring and dreaming up fantastic sartorial creations. Today's outfit is what I'd wear if I had a) an extra $10,000 lying around and b) an afternoon to myself to luxuriate with a great book and a cappuccino from Peet's. While the latter is certainly attainable, the former is a tad beyond my reach at the moment. But I can dream, can't I? Oh, Polyvore. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

J'adore Clemence Poesy

I have a serious girl crush on this woman. Clemence Poesy has that cool, effortless, not-trying-too-hard-but-all-the-while-still-looking-chic aesthetic (read: very French) that I dig. Note to self: take a leaf out of her book.

{Top photo from UK Vogue, April 2010; bottom photo via Garance Dore}

Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2010-2011

Aren't these Fall/Winter 2010-2011 ads for Louis Vuitton gorgeous? The photos were shot by Stephen Meisel and represent three decades of "eternal femininity": 41-year-old Christy Turlington, 31-year-old Karen Elson, and 28-year-old Natalia Vodianova. Kudos to Marc Jacobs for featuring such a charming trio of loveliness. I don't know about you, but I, for one, am ready for the fashion pendulum to swing toward a more classic, ladylike aesthetic (I am so over the mini-skirt-and-gladiator-sandals trends of the last few years). For more photos and a behind-the-scenes video of the shoot, click here.

{Photos via here}

Girl Crush

Oh lordy, that looks like a lot of fun. I don't think Diane Kruger could look any more adorable in this photo if she tried. You know the saying that so-and-so could wear a burlap sack and still look fabulous? Well, Ms. Kruger is the only person I can think of to whom this saying absolutely 100% applies. She never ceases to look amazing and altogether more interesting than 99.99% of women out there. She just kills it every time. And her life seems positively dreamy. Wouldn't you, too, squeal with delight if you could still look achingly chic while paling around with the boyfriend at a Chanel party in the French Riviera in springtime? Yeah, so would I.

{Image via Garance}

Man-Shawl love

If only more men were secure enough in their masculinity to don a shawl with their blazer, the world just might be a better place. Don't you think? You also can't beat a smile like that.

{Via The Sartorialist}

Hermione all grown up

My favorite look during all of London Fashion Week has got to be the adorable Emma Watson, pictured here at the Burberry Prorsum Spring 2010 show. She looked so modern and age-appropriate and as this picture indicates, has bloomed into a lovely young lady. She looks ever-so-fierce as a Burberry model in their latest ad campaign, as well. You can see all the fabulous shots from the Spring 2010 show here.

I'm suddenly all of 12 in my love for this girl, but I can't help but also include these Teen Vogue images of Emma as the quintessential English rose. She's such a smart role model for girls everywhere (case in point: she's taking a hiatus from acting to attend university here in the states) and, therefore, worthy of praise.


{Photos via Style.com and Teen Vogue}

Fall with J.Crew

Each piece in J. Crew's new fall collection is "meant to be affectionately weathered and worn--much like your favorite paperback." Oh, J.Crew, you had me at "paperback".

How gorgeous are the colors in this photo? I love the blue-gray tones of the sea and cardigan (I am cardigan-obsessed; they are my weakness as shoes are for most women). Makes me want to go to Big Sur, which I've never actually had the pleasure to visit. But that will change. I've been politely pestering T about it.

How cute is this model's curls? I hope it inspires curly-haired girls everywhere to go more natural instead of playing slave to the flat iron. I stopped straightening my hair years ago because, quite frankly, I don't need the hassle. Plus, I think my wavy/curly hair rather suits me. I'm all for embracing what you've got! And I'm a little lazy.

I want this girl's life. That is all.