Intoxicating Accoutrements

I am not a drinker – socially or otherwise; nor am I a liquor connoiseur in any way, shape, or form. To be completely honest, I am most at home when snuggled up cozily with a mug of piping hot cocoa topped with marshmallows, or a mind-blowingly delicious cup of coffee. Even so, I have never been able to resist the rich, vibrant hues that seemingly mingle side by side with alcoholic beverages; the deep merlots and lavish cognacs; the sparkling champagnes and swank chardonnay’s and campari’s. Each hue seemingly reserves the power to add a dash of elegance and charm to one’s look, even if only present in small doses. Thus, put that drink down, darlings, and intoxicate your senses, and wardrobe with some well-heeled accoutrements!

Free People “Boxy and Batty Top in Champagne” Champagne as a drink always seems to be synonymous with tinkling laughter, swank sophistication, and saucy seductiveness. So why not channel all three in a top that dazzles from day to night like Free People’s Boxy and Batty Top in Champagne? Leave your baubles at home for once, dolls. The champagne colored lame construction is enough to make you beam, gleam, and glimmer from the moment you slip it over your head until the moment you take it off. Metallic lace side panels create a daring juxtaposition between Lolita-like innocence, and wild child crass; at the very same time that the flowy dolman sleeves and wide-neck work as one to present a slightly rumpled, effortlessly chic silhouette that can’t help but look amazing with skinny jeans. I’ll take two, s’il vous plait!

Love Quotes “Scarf in Merlot” Red may be the color of the season, and while I simply cannot get enough of its powerful, stop-them-in-their-tracks personality, in certain forms I find that it can be too overwhelming for the look one may be trying to convey. Perhaps that’s why I am incapable of resisting Love Quotes’ Scarf in Merlot. Inspired by the color red, the Merlot seems imbued with hints of black which provide a very vampy feel to the shade, and the style in its entirety; while a slight shimmery sheen on the surface provides a subtle hint of high-shine which truly makes the piece twinkle. Toss it over a black top for a daytime date with a cute boy, or wrap it around your throat on a brisk fall afternoon with shopping in mind – it’s a drop of wonderment for your wardrobe destined to make it come alive!

Mulberry “Daria Clutch in Cerise” As children we sang about spinning around and around a mulberry bush; as adults we simply want someone to bestow a magnificent piece from Mulberry upon us. But not any Mulberry style will do. We want something that will…spice up our lives, so to speak. An accessory with the power to make us feel just like the celebrities that we read about so often in tawdry checkout stand tabloids – the Daria Clutch in Cerise is that accent. Cast aside the plain purples you have accumulated over the years, kittens. Cerise mixes bits of black cherry, pink, purple, violet, red, fuchsia, and rose together to create a rapturous shade virtually seen nowhere else. It is the preemptive clutch to replace the stunning yet subdued noir hand-pieces which have been accompanying you around town for late-night escapades with your BFF; and an elementary way to shake up your style.

Pour La Victoire “Victorina Over the Knee Boot in Cognac” Who on earth said that over the knee boots were relegated to ebony hues for them to look marvelous when strapped about one’s foot? Since you’re already taking a chance with such towering height, why not go high-class with a boot in a rich cognac color, quite reminiscent of the shade of chestnuts as they roast upon an open fire come the chilly winter, in the form of Pour La Victoire’s Victorina. Neither black, brown, orange, or red; cognac is more of a gold/bronze shade that brings about the illusion of a posh, upper crust personality to your shoe collection, due to its ease of juxtaposing between a rugged, weatherbeaten Equestrian style, and that of simple sophistication. Based on sheer experience alone, I’m going to let you all in on a little secret…cognac boots will never let you – or your wardrobe – down.

Catherine Malandrino “Meatpacking Dress in Wine” Darlings, for far too long the lady in red has dominated the scheme of colors when it comes to fashion. She is regarded as a fiery, free spirit who is polished yet playful, all due to her complacency to don a frock the shade of embers with not a care or inhibition to speak of. Why not knock her off her high horse and rousing a room of admirers by wowing in wine – Catherine Malandrino’s Meatpacking Dress in Wine, to be exact. Plum, eggplant, purple, and ebony shades whirl and twirl alongside one another upon the ruched silk jersey fabrication to create a heady hue that is, quite simply, irresistible; while a buckled belt and cowl neck work as one to carve the perfect figuration by outlining your curves. The lady in wine, anyone?


Ready to intoxicate your wardrobes, kittens?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Shopbop, Luv Charlie, and Free People for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Fashionista in the Kitchen Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat.

Style Secrets: Over the Knee Boots Demystified

“One must always have one’s boots on and be ready to go.”
Michel de Montaigne
Dolls of course you want your attire to be intimidating and fierce; but as the wearer one does not want to feel intimidated by their own foot accoutrement. Mais non; you simply want to intimidate others. But I digress; I don’t blame one for feeling frightened at the mere contemplation of over the knee boots. I counted myself amongst the fearful up until a few short months ago when I ordered a pair of knee-highs which, incidentally, went a good four inches over my knee. Apparently they were knee-high boots for the tall; over the knee boots for the petite.

The aesthetic of such a gorgeous getup left me in awe mixed with alarm. How I, an individual standing no more than five-foot-one-and-a-half-inches could rock such a look in the same fashion as Daria Werbowy, Lily Donaldson, Coco Rocha, and Chanel Iman; towering goddesses strutting their stuff in these very same designs on the runway, seemed unfathomable – even for me, a person willing to take risks for the sake of style.

Those boots sat untouched, simply being oohed and aahed over in my mind for a full three weeks before I finally worked up the courage to wear them out of my palatial bedroom. And once I did…I was addicted. The truth of the matter is, darlings, while over the knee boots retain the ability to tantalize and terrify both the wearer and the viewer, styling them is an uncomplicated undertaking with the power to revamp your wardrobe in the blink of an eye; as long as you know exactly how to work with them, as opposed to against them.

♥Hues, Textures, and Materials, Oh My! I’ll be the first to admit that I have a slight obsession with patent leather due to the fact that it’s slick and shiny. While these two traits are fabulous for that divine new Derek Lam Harriet Bag, when it comes to over the knee boots these are two things that you want to steer clear of. Hues, textures, and materials are essentials to consider when selecting the over the knee offering of your dreams, for they are the determinants in how you present yourself, and how others will perceive you. Take into consideration the fact that height is the true crème de la crème of the over the knee boot; it need not compete with a flashy color, reptilian texture, or embellishments galore. Go for subtlety. Stick to suede and natural leather pieces in neutral tones such as blacks, browns, or, if you feel a deep desire to channel your inner Serena van der Woodsen, grays – these shades and materials will work with anything and everything lurking within your closet; in addition to complementing your wardrobe in the most mesmerizing of ways.

“I’d like to die with my boots on.”
Daniel Berrigan
♥Height or No Height Be aware of the fact that you are already lengthening your look with the height of the over the knee boot; therefore, don’t feel that you must search for a sky-high heel in order to do these stunners justice. In fact, I recommend a flat boot for the sheer fact that they are more wearable in an abundance of situations – from job interviews to girls’ nights; and come across as more sophisticated than shocking. I think of Giuseppe Zanotti as an over the knee boot genius. For the girl who wants something understated, he has the Thigh High Flat Suede Boots with Flex Sole, and for the lovely looking to proffer a bit of attitude, there are the Python Print Over the Knee Boots. These are both paradigmatic models of what the perfect over the knee boot should look like in either venue, be it flat or heeled. If you should opt for a heel, look for a chunky one, as opposed to a stiletto to avoid looking too risqué. A chunkier heel neutralizes the silhouette and comes across as more classy and chic than outrageous and over the top.
♥Welcoming Widths After the success with my first pair of over the knee boots, I decided to spring for another in a similar style, which I purchased Online. They were absolutely gorgeous once they arrived at my front door, but there was one noticeable difference between the two – the circumference. Looking at the height of the shaft and heel is like second nature to us seasoned shoppers, but we often neglect to learn what the width of the leg opening is. Tawdry checkout stand tabloids (which I am slightly addicted to) go on and on about “thigh spillage,” a term coined to describe the loose skin that hangs over the top of over the knee boots – i.e. an expression you most definitely don’t want to hear used in reference to you. To avoid such a tight fit, make sure to decide what look you’re going for beforehand and purchase accordingly. Do you want something that fits in the same fashion as a legging, like Robert Clergerie’s Fissaw Over the Knee Boots with Stretch Shaft; or do you want a style that will let you move and groove like Chinese Laundry’s Tripin? Take into consideration what you’ll be wearing with these boots – skinny jeans, bare legs, tights…and slip them on with such ensembles before buying; it’s definitely better than realizing ten minutes before your hot date that the boots of your dreams are incapable of being worn over your seductive skinnies!

“Beware of fishing for compliments – you might come up with a boot.”
Carol Weston
♥Back to Basics I am of the belief that when wearing over the knee boots, the shoe should be the focal point of your look du jour; thus, it is your job to ensure that the pieces surrounding them are working to complement their fabulousness, as opposed to competing with it. Lock your bold prints and bright colors away, if only for a fleeting period of time – over the knee boots work best when married with monochromatic hues. Pair Dolce Vita’s Crosby in Black with ebony-toned tights, don Steve Madden’s Montrell in Grey Suede with dark wash skinny jeans, wear Qupid’s Nesha-42 in Brown Suede with skintight, chocolate leggings. Not only will your footwear steal the show; but the solid colors will make you appear more lithe and lanky than you already are, and no girl can resist that!

♥Perfect Proportions The main reason I avoided my over the knee boots for so long was that I was clueless as to how I should style them. Once I actually began to try them out with different looks, however, I realized that they easily worked with most of my wardrobe. The key thing to remember is that you don’t want to appear as if you’re on your way to a costume party; thus, you must be fully aware of your proportions. Form-fitting or tunic-like sweater dresses that fall just below the derriere look gorgeous when worn alongside flat over the knee boots with a legging fit; while boyfriend cardigans, cropped blazers or motorcycle jackets, and even plain t-shirts worn with leggings or skinny jeans can dress such footwear down and make it more playful and fun. A word of wisdom…over the knee boots do have the potential to make one – especially shorter girls – look slightly heavy about the rear if not careful. Rely on accessories like a statement necklace or perky scarf to detract attention from your posterior, and keep you feeling confident.

“Having a few pairs of boots, which can go with a variety of lengths, is really functional.”
Valerie Steele
Darlings, it was Franklin Delano Roosevelt who said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Hold fast to his words of wisdom and plunge into the sea of over the knee boots. Mark my words…you won’t regret it!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Fashionising, Sterling Style, Science Blogs, and Batch Please for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Fashionista in the Kitchen Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat.

Thrifty Thursday: Chinese Laundry Turbo for Less

Serena van der Woodsen stole my shoes. Obviously it’s not enough that she rules the Upper East Side; has been romanced by a slew of adorable suitors vying for her affections – the poetic Dan Humphrey, the artistic Aaron Rose, the sophisticated bad boy Nate Archibald; is attending an Ivy League; can buy anything her heart desires; and virtually has the world at her fingertips. No, she has to go and steal my shoes, as well.

Okay, so Serena was wearing Chinese Laundry’s Strate Boot, a magnificent piece of footwear that has since been discontinued, not the equally as gorgeous Turbo, which is proving to be just as satisfying to my well-being. And, to be completely honest, they weren’t mine to begin with exactly; just something I fancied from the moment I laid eyes upon them. But in my mind I was already wearing them on shopping sprees and coffee dates, and then there they were…strapped to her feet.

The 22-inch shaft pulled up stylishly about her knee, providing the ideal above the knee aesthetic to be donned with all sorts of luscious legwear – leggings, skinnies, minis, tights. The supple gray suede scrunching in all the right places yet retaining a very…a la mode slouch where required. Function and fashionable flair juxtaposing with one another upon one preemptive, must-have piece.

But I suppose it’s all right. There’s nothing stopping me from picking a pair up now. Except, perhaps, the $99.99 exaction. Oh, to be a young lady with the bank account of Ms. van der Woodsen. But I’m not; therefore my assortment of footwear must simply suffer in silence. Don’t worry dolls, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel – both for me, and all of you wanting to envelop these enchanters. And that consolation, kittens, is Charlotte Russe’s $34.99 Knee-High Suede Boots.

A round toe and a slight chunk of a heel give way to a 17-inch ruched shaft made up of faux suede fabric perfect for tucking jeans into, or simply wearing with cutoff denim on those slightly sticky days when you crave a little boot boogie. Now that’s something to…gossip about.

I’m having a Blair Waldorf moment…it feels good to undermine Serena van der Woodsen – even if it is simply in the saving money department.

Your turn loves…will you be thrifty or suckered into putting on your spendthrift cap?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Chinese Laundry and Charlotte Russe for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Charmed and Dangerous Giveaway for your chance to win a Victorian Portrait Charm Bracelet from Lulu*s.

Smitten Saturday

♥La Clef à Mon Coeur I swallowed a key at the age of two. If that isn’t indicative of how much I adore keys, I truly can’t even begin to think what is. But I’m not the kind of girl who goes gaga over the standard keys made for mere pocket change at the corner store; or garishly-colored bits that speak volumes – even when you don’t want them to. No, I love a key that embraces the three E’s: elegance, exquisiteness, and enchantment; a skeleton that opens the door to refinery and brilliance in its tiny two-inch frame. Where to find such a splendrous piece? Stat Key Designer Keys. The hopeless romantic in me is convinced that this is the key to my heart. The burgeoning cat lady within is positive that this is destined to become a new near and dear feline friend. And the free-spirit fluttering about inside my chest? Well, it’s quite sure that this little buggy will set it free. Aren’t you ready to find la clef à mon Coeur, lovelies?

♥Dreaming in Dolly Really, could I be more immature, darlings? Here I am, a college student, an adult (if you want to refer to me as such), and what do I dream about? Dolls. Albeit, they are not baby dolls that cry in the middle of the night, or require all too frequent diaper changes. Nothing of the sort, in fact. They are collectibles. And not just typical collectibles, mind you. Collectibles that would make any fashionista’s heart skip a beat. Come to think of it, I don’t think that any of you can really blame me for my dolly dreams in this case. I’m sure you’re all having them too. After all, who could really resist the Lanvin Fashion Mannequins? Porcelain pieces crafted with Alber Elbaz’s seal of approval, and released in small quantities for only the crème de la crème of society to own. I’ll take the Blue Dress with Dogs, the Green Dress with Ice Cream Cone, and the Bride. Why must there only be 800 crafted of each design? Why must they be so out of my price range? And why, on earth, should a 10-inch porcelain doll possess a more covetable wardrobe than my very own? Sometimes life simply isn’t fair!

♥My Little Pony Don’t think I’m going off on a full-on trip down memory lane, recounting my love for all things playful – from stuffed animals to porcelain dolls. While I adored my collection of My Little Pony figurines (many of which I still have lying about the house), the my little pony in question at this point in time is of the hairstyle variety – ponytails, to be exact. Mes chéris, unless I’m lounging around the house, you will so rarely find me with my hair cinched into a ponytail at the back of my head. No, I adore my mop to swish to and fro as it cascades and tumbles down my back like a golden brown waterfall – to be completely truthful, it is my constant accessory; one that I treasure in the same fashion one treasures a rare diamond. That said, as of late, I find myself completely mesmerized with the style. It is sporty and chic all at once. Uptown with a sprinkling of country. I adore the flirtatiousness of the Side Ponytail; the free-spirit of the Rumpled Ponytail; the sophistication of the Sleek Ponytail; even the fierceness conveyed through the Dramatic Ponytail. I’m just going to say it, dearests…I’m smitten with ponies.♥Get Over It Throughout the years I’ve come to realize something about myself…when I can’t stop thinking about something – a product, a person, anything – and talk about it nonstop, it typically means that I desperately want it, regardless of how many times I proclaim the contrary. Thus, despite all the times I’ve stated that over-the-knee boots will not work for me due to my height, I want a pair more than anything else in the world right now! I want to paint the town red in Chinese Laundry’s gray suede Turbo a la Gossip Girl’s Serena van der Woodsen. I crave the chance to get in touch with my intrinsic biker babe via Candela clothing’s Studded Pirate Over the Knee Boots. I dream of attending countless music festivals wearing cutoff denim shorts and Joie clothing’s Coachella Above the Knee Boots. And Marc by Marc Jacobs’ Slouch Above the Knee Flat Boots? The upper scalloped edge has me imagining all sorts of romantic thoughts. Non, I certainly can’t get over my love for over the knee boots. The best thing to do then, kittens? Embrace it!

♥Superfudge Before you begin thinking all sorts of incorrect things about me I will quell your rapidly whirring mind with divulging a tidbit of information that is of the utmost importance: I am not a chocoholic. Oui, like many of the female variety, I do find that chocolate can cure most ailments – stress, heartbreak, sickness – but I am not someone who abuses it’s medicinal powers in any way, shape, or form. Instead, I indulge in small doses to celebrate special occasions; and, if you ask me, the release of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, which arrived for another round of fall festivities on September 1, is most certainly cause for celebration because you simply cannot savor the flavors of autumn without a dollop of chocolate. Therefore, with Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand, I will be requiring one Cappuccino Toffee Fudge Gourmet Brownie from Brownie Points…; a handful of Milk Chocolate Pecan Caramel Clusters from Lake Champlain Chocolates; and a box of smooch-worthy Champagne Kisses from Jacques Torres. Don’t look at me that way, darlings; we both know that I’m not the only one here who wants to indulge in a piece of superfudge!

♥500 Days of Summer The fact that summer is coming to an end truly has me down for the sheer reason that I feel as if the warmer months passed me by without having done any summery things. Despite the fact that I live in Southern California, going to the beach completely slipped my mind; and my bouts of travel, strained by work commitments, consisted of day trips to local shopping Mecca’s that made my closet phenomenally happy. My wallet? Not so much. Even so, I am not waving goodbye to the sizzling season without commemorating it in some way. Which is why I find the purchase of a Love, Summer of…Tote Bag essential to my peace of mind. Simple yet sassy, the eco-friendly tote was created by Guzman-Cronin, a title thought up by Phil Pinto and Meg Shoemaker, two artists looking to raise funds for their short film which will begin shooting come fall. You get an awesome tote; they get the movie camera required for their looming work. I really can’t imagine a better way to make this summer live on forever – if only in my mind!

What were you smitten with this week?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to So about what I said... and ShopBop for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Charmed and Dangerous Giveaway for your chance to win a Victorian Portrait Charm Bracelet from Lulu*s.

La Bilateral Boot

I’m frightened, mes amis. Of a fashion trend, no less. Oh, I want nothing more than to snuggle with the season’s adoration of over-the-knee boots. To take in arms the legging-like fit. To bear hug the lovesome lycra, the soft suede, the luscious leather. But the mere contemplation of doing so sends me into a complete and utter tailspin. I am not of the over-the-knee wearing kind. I am sweet but incredibly short. Sassy but quite shy. Sociable yet outright serene. Over-the-knee boots were not created for someone of my stature, of my personality, in mind. They were constructed out of thoughts of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, leggy Rodarte models on the runway, statuesque editorial assistants at fashion magazines. Even so, I find myself with nothing but over-the-knee boots on both the tip of my tongue and within the confines of my mind.

I know I can’t. It would be a gaffe, a snafu, a sheer faux pas on my part to buy a pair. To shell out hard-earned cash on a piece of footwear that is here today, gone tomorrow. A brogan that I may or may not deem daring enough to wear come tomorrow. So I won’t. Don’t worry, lovelies, I won’t do it. Instead, I’ll invest in the Convertible Over The Knee Boot.

Save your gasps of shock and horror for another time. I’m not reneging on my promise, I’m simply compromising. To put it candidly, Free People’s Convertible Over The Knee Boot is predestined to be the fall fashion favorite of the petite, pint-sized fashionista burdened with complete confusion, and the never-ending question of whether or not she can wholeheartedly propel herself into the trend without feeling self-conscious and insecure. Why? Darlings, do you even have to ask? It’s quite obvious; the Convertible Over The Knee Boot is…bilateral.

You may feel bold, dauntless, sanguine, fearless, even valiant about wearing over-the-knee boots today, but tomorrow those emotions may drain from your form completely. And when they do, the Convertible Over The Knee Boot will remain a fundamental fragment of your shoe collection, as the brushed lycra can simply be cuffed or scrunched down to create a surrogate style more fitting with your mood du jour.

This is not a quip. I am not jesting you here. This is a direct order. Buy them now – they are sure to save your sanity later.


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Free People for the pictures.


Don't forget to enter the Boys! Boys! Boys! Giveaway for your chance to win three (3) pairs of colorful boyshorts from Bjorn Borg.