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If They are Good Enough for Miuccia Prada...

 

 

After endless stalking, these Prada Double Strap Platforms from the Fall 2013 collection popped up in my size on sale. I'm planning on clomping around in them all year round. 

In Her Closet: J.Crew Handknit Tile Sweater

While reading Vogue.com's Five Days, Five Looks, One Girl with Cynthia Smith I noticed they were wearing J.Crew sweaters that I hadn't seen before. I thought they might pop up in the fall rollouts and made a mental note of the blue one on the right

When J.Crew's first fall rollout came out I ordered the Merino Scarf Sweater and noticed they also had that blue sweater, the Handknit Tile Sweater, available as a pre-order. It came in a ivory/grey combination as well, and that is the one I ordered.

When I came home from the hospital both packages were waiting for me, and I wound up keeping the Handknit Tile Sweater. The pattern and chunky knit remind me of the sweaters from the 80's and 90's. 

 

 

 

In Her Closet: Topshop Metal Trim Boots

Celine's Fall 2013 collection inspired lots of wants, including that dense, opaque grey color used for the accessories. When the Metal Trim boots popped up on Topshop I ordered them immediately, because anything with a bit of shine on it will seal the deal.

The blonde bottoms make them casual enough to wear in the summer with things like simple white shifts, and I plan on pairing them with jeans come fall. 

Working on a New Project

Wearing Anthropologie Graced Swing Dress and Miu Miu Bow Heels

I took a step back from posting daily, but I know things have gotten really quiet around here in the last couple of months. In the middle of trying to rehab a house we thought it would be brilliant to start trying for a baby. I counted on it taking a while, but it happened on the first try!

I would love to say things continued to be this easy, but it's been a rough couple of months. My body apparently decided to avoid morning sickness in exchange for lovely things like placenta previa and fibroid degeneration.

After one particular week in which I couldn't even sit up because of the pain I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night knowing something wasn't right. My husband, who is the type of person you want most in a stressful situation, always knows how to comfort with words of reassurance and jokes. This time he was so very quiet and moved oh so quickly around the bedroom, managing to get me stumbling in shock out the front door in less than 5 minutes. He even had the foresight to strip the bed, so we wouldn't have to come home to that in case we lost the baby.

But after every event this little one's heart radiated out to me from the ultrasound. I'm here mama! We are taking everything one day at a time, and I smile every time I feel a push or tumble (like the baby is doing right now as I type!). It's remarkable how fast you can fall in love. 

I normally don't share things this personal on the site, but I know there are other women dealing with similar situations. Looking things up on the internet can be scary business, but I also found stories that gave me hope and encouragement.

In Her Closet: Vintage Knotted Pouch

Speaking of Celine, when I was in Atlanta last month I entertained the idea of finally buying a pouch. I had just received some good news and thought it would be a stylish way to celebrate. That was until I wondered up to the counter and realized they had taken the Chanel route (price increase after price increase), and prices were a lot more now than when I had first started wanting the bag. I guess I need to start paying more attention to these things!

A couple of weeks later while thrifting I came across this vintage clutch with a knotted accent. It gave a little nod to Celine, and it has that thick chewy leather that reminds me of Marc Jacobs bags from around 2003. I think it's softness will go great with sleek pieces in greys and blues.

 

 

In Her Closet: In the Clear

Along with favoring things with clean lines and structural shapes, I've also been attracted to transparent accents. It started with a hunt for a certain style of jewelry, which had me leaving an antique show with a Mid-Century cube stacked necklace.

I picked up the two vintage bags with chunky clear handles while thrifting. I think they were donated by the same woman, and I would have loved to have a peek inside of her closet.

Dries Van Noten S/S 2013 + Inspired Vintage Purchase

I talked yesterday about collections that take time to hit you, and then there are the ones that make you emit an instant YES! as soon as they walk down the runway. Dries Van Noten Spring 2013 show was one that really resonated with my personal aesthetic. He managed to make plaid skirts look ethereal and paired them with 1940's style prints, silvered pieces, and shadowy blacks.

This vintage plaid shirt had a similar color palette to the Dries so it made the cut at the thrift store. 

Stella McCartney Pre-Fall 2013 + Inspired Vintage Purchases

Some runways shows hit me instantly, while others simmer away in my subconscious slowly influencing my purchases. Stella McCartney's Pre-Fall 2013 snuck up on me, making me suddenly start lusting for coats with either a menswear cut or oversized silhouette.

I stopped at a couple of thrift stores on my way home from DC last week and managed to find two vintage coats that met my criteria. These are normally the coats I skip through on the rack, but something about streamlined designs is very appealing to me right now.

 This fits like a long men's suit jacket and it's a perfect compliment to some of my more feminine outfits.

I've had an olive green coat on my wish list for a while now, so this find was a 2 for 1 deal. It also has the roomy look I was going for that I can stuff chunky sweaters under.

 

 

 

In Her Closet: 1960's Fur Coat + Updates

I thrifted a vintage coat that kinda makes me look like the Cowardly Lion. Oh, and hi, long time no talk.

So what's been going on?

1. Our upstairs wood floors are finally refinished (Minwax Dark Walnut) after like 15 tries and having to stay anywhere that had an empty couch or bed for the duration. Unfortunately, in the middle of all that moving around I lost my engagement ring. Sadness.

2. We painted every room upstairs Benjamin Moore Simple White. I can't tell you how much I love it compared to that horrible margarine color that it was painted. I'm not sure if every room will stay this color, but it's nice to have a clean slate to start from.

3. We caught a second opossum—this time alive— in our crawlspace after a broken grate was missed the first time. SCREAM.

4. My Macbook, which has pretty much been a piece of junk since I bought it, finally shut down completely.

I'm going to be honest, it hasn't been a fun couple of months, but onwards and upwards. 

What's next?

1. Replacing the wood floor in the dining room.

2. Replacing and moving around chandeliers in living areas and foyer.

3. Painting Kitchen cabinets and walls.

4. Getting living room sofa reupholstered.

5. Finding drapes/blinds that will fit our non-standard windows.

I could go on and on, but these are the tasks at the top of the list.

 

In Her Closet: Vintage Sweaters & 90's Skirts

The magic mirror shot that makes you 10 inches taller and 10 pounds skinnier.

Vintage beige Sweater (thrifted)
90's Express skirt in dark green (thrifted)
Falke black wool tights 
Loeffler Randall Emmy Boots in Taupe 
Hermes Collier de Chien Cuff (I declared that I would wear this every day if I got it and I'm doing pretty well at holding to it)