ONLINE STYLE SEARCH

-vintage lucite jewelry
-Kansai Yamamoto
-turquoise and silver belts
-Alaia shoes
-Chloe black boots (midcalf harness)
-Dries van Noten shoes
-vintage Carolina Herrera
-Comme des Garcons
-vintage gold belts
-vintage Levi's 501s
-vintage rhinestone jewelry
-dress forms
-Emanuel Ungaro
-Guy Laroche
-Christian Lacroix
-Claude Montana
-Geoffrey Beene
-Anne Klein
-Bill Blass
-Thierry Mugler
-Norman Norrell
-Scott McClintock
-Moschino
-Sonia Rykiel
-Kenzo
-Victor Costa
-Leonard
-Pierre Cardin
-Louis Feraud
-Yves Saint Laurent
-bolero
-silk ruffles
-lace
-Teal Traina
-Balenciaga Fall 06 hidden platform suede boot, by Pierre Hardy
-crinoline

SALIVATING: JIMMY CHOO "SAMOA" KID LEATHER CAGE HEEL

$785

I've never wanted an orange shoe so badly.

INSTYLING

I absolutely love this blouse and the way it's styled. The skirt has the perfect bit of shine and the sleek shape that draws your attention to the pop of color in the satiny heels. I'm trying to incorporate more patterns into my wardrobe. This is why.

Yes, I cut off VB's head...I'm just so tired of seeing her and her haircuts and stone cut perfectly made up face. I love this slouchy sleek mini shift, and the two tones. I would wear this at least twice a week! I wouldn't wear sky high heels, though I do like the neutral grey against the salmon pink.

I've been looking for this paisley shift in my size forever.

I love nude heels with anything, but I do like this unexpected golden sparkle that sets off her tan and the black and white contrast. Clearly, I'm ready for warm weather so I can bust out my dresses.

MY PREOCCUPATIONS THESE DAYS

I've finally started studying for the graduate school test. I'm marking up this week's Economist per usual. I'm on the verge of starting a new book, an autobiography by one of the greatest basketball players of all time. I can't wait for the continuation of March Madness later this week. I'm looking up how to grow herbs and tomatoes in pots instead of gardens. I started working overtime for some extra spending money during my trip in May. I'm procrastinating calling Verizon again for messing up my bill (I have to do this every month). And why is it still so cold?!

NEWPORT NEWS

Sorbet tulip skirt, $29

Lace trim tunic dress, $49

Cropped slim-fit pants, $29

I've never ordered anything from Newport News, but I always see really cute pieces floating around the internet. I don't know anything about the quality or fit of their clothes, but I just browsed their selection online and these are by far my favorites. I wouldn't wear a hat with that dress (overkill), but that's just me. This just highlights the point that you can get J. Crew for a fraction of the price, without the stupid final sale and costly shipping.

BURBERRY PRORSUM AT GILT.COM

Up to 70% off at noon EST today! I can't wait....

BLACK AND WHITE

Your black stilettos don't need to be Louboutins to be hot.

You don't even need to wear shoes at all.

MUSE: DOVIMA

Discovered outside of a laundromat.

STALKING: YSL TRIB TWO PLATFORM PUMP

I didn't really like these until I saw an Olsen wearing them. I would wear these only with very simple, classic outfits to keep them the eyecatching part of the ensemble.

STAPLES

Christian Louboutin Mary Jane

Manolo Blahnik Mary Jane

Chloe Paraty Satchel bag

I've been looking for the perfect pair of mary janes, but it's so hard to get the strap placement, heel height, and leather just right. I love CL's Wallis but have yet to try it on. Maybe a point would be better than a rounded toe, but I'm not sure.

As for the Paraty, I wouldn't mind it in black, milk, or that lovely rose lavender color I saw Kate Bosworth carrying in several pap photos. I don't like really heavy bags and I suspect this is one of them. But it's so lovely I doubt I'd mind. I love the long strap, short strap, hardware, and elegant shape. Now, if only I could skip two mortgage payments...

DAILY ONLINE BEAT

I'm kind of cheating because I rely on Google Reader to get my blog fix, which means instead of 20 different sites showing up on my browsing history, there's only one. You can find those sites on the right in my blogroll "Style Files." I also read the Consumerist regularly, and Perez Hilton when my boss comes into my office to rehash celebrity gossip. I try not to read the news because it's so easy to get caught up in divided politics and a tormented economy, which really affect my mood. I catch up with the week in The Economist, and listen to NPR in the mornings. Sometimes, I'll spend half an hour clicking on random articles in Wikipedia and be constantly amazed. Once or twice a day, I indulge in surfing The Purse Forum for online deals/steals and ebay/bonanzle selling advice. I frequent ebay and bonanzle themselves, conducting random searches like "silk ruffles" or "vintage rhinestones." I limit myself to checking Google Finance and my stock portfolio to once or twice a week. I don't want to obsess over it. I have a lot of free time at work, which I want to channel towards writing fiction rather than aimlessly surfing all of the above. Easier said than done, however!

HEAL

Heal, Mary Kate. I said Heal.

Photo from TFS

SNAGGED: RALPH LAUREN AZTEC PRINT TOGGLE SWEATER

I tried this on at Lord & Taylor a month or so ago. It was on the clearance rack but not marked down enough for me to pull the trigger. I just found it for $20 including shipping on bonanzle. Isn't it so pretty and cozy?

NOT CLINT EASTWOOD

I've never seen him act or even move in real life. I've just seen him in (lots of) pictures. He looks to be an absolute douchebag in real life. But I have to admit his eyes are rather arresting.

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE PONCHO

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Clint Eastwood is obviously The Hot Shit. I still think he's gorgeous and the boy thinks I am crazy.

BESTALEBRITIES

These caught my eye at Mahalo Fashion today. I have to add that I love seeing candids of Kate Moss but find Mischa Barton annoying (like everyone else in the world probably). I've seen Kate hanging out of a window and stumbling out of a car wearing vintage Valentino and red lipstick. Those kinds of photos still appeal to me, but for the altogether different reason in that I find them disgusting. I may have been on the receiving end of that disapproving silent boyfriend tugging at my arm trying to snap me out of my drunken vacancy. But at least I don't have the pictures to prove it!

GILT GROUPE PICKS

Vera Wang

Abaete pencil skirt

Abaete

EXTREMES IN WEATHER

less than a week ago I made this snow angel on the way home from work

that very same weekend, my friends and i took a trip in the warm weather

i call this "inspiration in algae"

could you tell this was a miniature set from a replica of george washington's house?

don't you want that mirror.. and stand.. and canopy?

SNAGGED: BLACK CALVIN KLEIN BOOTS

my artistic bull poop with wagon with tree background shot

there is a "keep off the beach" sign here at the wharf once belonging to george washington

my new calvin klein boots

tucked into my sweatpants

very comfy

FASHION SPOTTING

rochas

rochas

nina ricci

isabel marant

photos courtesy of fashionspot

Shopping list:
-grey cigarette pants with neutral heel
-beautifully cut neutral coat
-petal skirt
-black leather pencil skirt
-white jeans that don't make me look wide load
-leopard print scarf
-chloe paraty bag.... yeah right

And I would love to see a celebrity interpret that Nina Ricci dress. Tilda? Gwyneth?

MARILYN MONROE

#1 from googling, #2 and #3 from LIFE

TIPSY CONSUMERISM

This is what happens when you browse online all day, and then come home and crack open a bottle of wine and Wikipedia something and then remember you're watching a few things on eBay that are ending in a few minutes... I just bought this vintage Lausanne pearl watch clock pendant necklace (a mouthful, I know) and I can't even remember what my winning bid was. I hope it's lovely in person.