Sunday Lust List

Weirdly enough, I haven't been lusting after too many clothes lately. Has my closet hit its threshold? Have I reached my fashion fill? Maybe I am finally the girl who has everything?

And I'm a lucky little girl if that's the case - well, I'm lucky anyway. I had been shopping for a pink dress to wear to the cocktail reception I co-hosted last Wednesday. But luckily for me, while in New Orleans, my super awesome mother bought me this little number.

Diane von Furstenberg Jori dress

Isn't this fab, flattering and so fun? Plus, it's the perfect pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So I checked "new shift dress" off my Fall Shopping List (all that remains on the list are a black boyfriend cardigan and a fur vest).

But it wouldn't be Sunday without a list, so here are a couple things that have caught my eye lately.

Aryn K sequined cardigan, available at Piperlime: $86

Trina Turk Mirren Woodland Rose dress, available at Bloomingdales: $348

Missoni ballet flats, available at Yoox: $248

Bottega Veneta bangle: $31,000 (SERIOUSLY)

Saturday Style: Biking with a Birkin

Credit: The Sartorialist

Scott Schuman has a way of capturing the world's fashion elite looking effortless, casual and perfectly polished. I mean, this photograph really makes me believe that Olivia Palermo is about to bike way in 5+ inch heels.

I obviously am a huge fan of Olivia P's style. She never looks like she's trying too hard. From her Tibi leather shorts to her go-to Birkin, I just love her look. Completely impractical for my life, but a girl can dream of a life of "working" at Elle magazine and "biking" around NYC in an outfit that costs more than my rent for a year...

Friday's Facts: Hooray for four-day!

 Friday already? Wow, that snuck up on me. Here are some great blogs from around the 'sphere to catch up on if you, unlike me, have a relaxing Friday at work.

• Analyzing DC's "Fashion Complex": a truthful look at DC's oft-squandered style potential from April's PR Wrap Sheet. (h/t DCblogs for this great find)
• Can a career girl wear a midi skirt to the office? Vogue thinks so. Is this too costume-y or precious for the DC scene? Jury's still out for me.
• Matthew Williamson, he of the fabulous prints and beautiful caftans, will be launching a diffusion line in fall 2011, The Cut reports. I'll be counting down the days.
• When it comes to Gossip Girl, I've always much preferred Blair's Park Avenue perfection to Serena's UESlutty style (I wouldn't be caught dead in most of what Vanessa wears... minus this amazing Reem Acra). And this season, I really think the costumer's have upgraded the wardrobe of the newest member of Columbia's Hamilton House. College Fashion tells you how to attain the Blair look.
• InStyle tells us how to take our personal style - whether classic, sexy, edgy, feminine or fab - and make it better. But what if you're a little bit of all five, as I think we all are?
• After some beautiful, Indian Summer weather, we're back to colder weather. Refinery29 has some great sweater dresses to warm up to fall with.

You've got a point

Yesterday, I posted a picture of Alexa Chung in her fabulous Burberry trench during Paris Fashion Week. I thought she looked stylish and chic in some of this season's must-have Valentino shoes.

Chung sans trench (Credit: Styleite)

However, Styleite questioned her sartorial decision, saying pointy toe flats make everyone look "dowdy."

As someone who wears pointy toe flats when heels aren't cutting it comfort-wise (or heels make me just a teensy bit too tall for the fiance's comfort), I disagree. I wouldn't be too concerned about look dowdy. In fact, I'd be most concerned about looking witchy!

Most girls go-to flat is a round-toe ballet flat, often with a bit of stretch in the heel, like a Tory Burch Reva or Matt Bernson Waverly. But sometimes, these ballet flats can make a calf look extra shapely or make an otherwise dressy outfit look too casual.

So this is where a pointy-toe flat enters the picture. It's less Saturday shopping and more Tuesday night happy hour hopping. It's a little retro and a little rock.

Worried about the witch effect? Stay away from anything TOO pointy. Anything that extends much further than 1-1.5 inches past your toes is too far.

Xhilaration Salema zipper flat, available at Target: $19.99

SE Boutique Inga flat, available at DSW: $49.95

Elizabeth and James Jane pointy toe flat, available at Shopbop: $275

Tibi Misha flat, available at endless.com: $308.95

Johnston and Murphy Victoria studded flat: $138

Stuart Weitzman python skimmer, available at footnotesonline: $99

You like me, you really really like (or the Queen of LA does)

Can we talk about how long it takes to catch up on Google Reader when you go on vacation? I was gone 5 days, and my RSS feed backed up like the 14th Street Bridge during rush hour. After clearing out the unnecessaries (namely, my many celebrity gossip and entertainment blogs), I finally got (mostly) caught up (I read way too many style blogs). And when I got caught up, I saw the following exciting news:

I have been awarded my very first blog award!!!

Thanks so much to Jordan, over at Queen of LA, for bestowing upon me the Versatile Blogger, Stylish Blogger and One Lovely Blog awards. How exciting!!

The Rules for Acceptance

1. Thank and link back the person who gave you the award.

2. Share SEVEN things about yourself.

3. Pass this on to 15 other great bloggers you recently discovered.

4. Contact the recipients and tell them about their awards

Hmm... Seven things about myself. I hope I'm interesting enough that I deserve SEVEN bullet points.

1. Yesterday marked 1.5 years until my WEDDING. We are about to sign the contract, book the planner and get into the meat of the planning. I am so excited to wear a beautiful dress and throw a great party! I wish it were sooner.

2. As a recent Tulane alumna, I was at the school during Hurricane Katrina (well, not during... I evacuated to Orlando). As a result of the school's unprecedented closure post-flooding, I spent a semester in the frigid north at University of Wisconsin in Madison. I lovedddd being a Badger, but not as much as I love New Orleans.

3. I talk to myself while I type. Whether I'm on my blog, Twitter, gchat or even sending an email, I emote as I go - laughing, furrowing my brow, gesticulating - along with what I'm writing. Luckily, people rarely stare at me while I'm typing, but when they do, they usually laugh/are weirded out.

4. I'm a really good cook (well, Tyler thinks so), but I cannot bake to save my life. Want a bone-dry cupcake? I'm your girl.

5. I own all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, and I made my fiance watch it all with me

6. I have a talent of being able to pick - and want - the most expensive: item on the menu, dress on the rack, jewelry in the case... You get the picture.

7. The older I get, the more I realize how much my parents have shaped who I am. Whether it's my dad's height and enthusiasm or my mom's taste (she also loves Gilmore Girls), I'm lucky that I got some of the best aspects of them. Also, some of the most awkward - most notably, my dad's weird feet. But I love them - and the person I've become - anyway.

And now I pass it on to the following fab recipients:

1. So Much to Smile About

2. Wardrobe Oxygen

3. Pretty Little Pauper

4. Bitches Who Brunch

5. DC GOP Girl

6. Perfectionist in Rehab

7. Fashion Fix

8. Style Within Reach

9. All Things Lovely

10. The Coveted

11. Signature Style

12. DC Prep

13. Daily Runway

14. I Heart Heels

15. The Chloe Conspiracy

As the Queen pointed out, the Internet is such an amazing place. How else would I "meet" someone who lives clear on the other side of the country from me! And I've learned so much - from something as simple to when Saks is having a fabulous sale, to how to best budget my shopping dollars, the web is a fount of useful information.

And Twitter is just one of the coolest inventions EVER.

Thursday's Facts: A shoe-in

It looks like that on purpose. (Credit: Fashionista)

• Kobi Levi makes some crazy sculptural shoes. Want to look like you just stepped in gum with a 5-inch heel? Want to slip into some banana peels? Check out more on Fashionista.
• While we're on the subject of shoes: Wisebread makes the case for expensive shoes. Now I can justify some Louboutins!
• Stylelist tells how to mix and match fall's jewelry.
• Sticking with skinnies or buying some boot cuts? Refinery29 debates skinny jeans vs. wide-legged denims.
• Mulberry for Target came out on Sunday. At first, I was upset I wouldn't be able to get to a Target first thing, but it looks like the collection wasn't so great, according to Stylin' and Profilin' and Recessionista.
• Get ready to laugh: The Fug Girls have made a rom-com random generator over at Lemondrop, and the results are hilarious.

Wardrobe Must-Have: The Trench

The trenchcoat: Always modern. Always classic. (via The Sartorialist)

I challenge you to find a list of wardrobe staples that does not include a trench coat. Everyone from Rachel Zoe to Victoria Beckham agrees that the trench is a sophisticated, timeless way to add classic pizazz to your look - and keep you warm during the transitional weather months.

When I slip on my trench coat, particularly over a great fitting dress, I feel instantly chicer. Sometimes, a trench makes me feel more mature. Sometimes, a trench makes me feel preppier. And sometimes, all a trench does is make me feel warmer - but at least I know I look good while I'm shivering.

Alexa Chung mixes trendy Valentino flats with a classic Burberry trench. (via Stylespot)

The other great thing about trenches is you can find them anywhere. Like I said, I got mine at Zara. Gap, J. Crew, Banana Republic, any department store... all your standard mall stores will have a trench. But you should scour outlet malls and off-price retailers like TJ Maxx. For instance, my fiance bought a Burberry trench for $250 at Nordstrom Rack - that's a $400 discount!

Need some help finding great trench options for your budget? Look no further:

Gap: $79.99

London Fog, available at Macy's: $99.98

Banana Republic: $198

See by Chloe, available at The Outnet: $312.75

Burberry London, available at Saks: $995

Want to find out what to look for when buying a trench - price, fit and quality?