Apple Picking!

Tomorrow I'm taking a much-needed break from the city and heading off to Stone Ridge Orchard to do some apple picking. 

 I'm imagining the perfect rustic-cute outfit for the day.  In my fantasy land I'd have a fabulous Hermes scarf to wrap around my head a la Jackie O. 

But in the spirit of being outdoorsy and in the spirit of not spending money I don't have, that will have to wait.

The perfect slouchy, casual plaid shirt.  It's just made for layering.

Joe's Jeans sexy western plaid shirt, $98, piperlime.com

Slightly worn-looking straight leg jeans.  No need for anything fussy.

Acne Kex Le Blue skinny jeans, $250, net-a-porter.com

I love, love having a chunky scarf with me at all times.

Two tone lurex scarf, $32, topshop.com

A classic boot in a classic color for tromping through the mud.

Hunter original rain boot, $115, madisonlosangeles.com

Klein bags are amazing.  They're actual tool bags so they're incredibly hard-wearing and really affordable.  Plus, the camo is rather cheeky I think.

Klein powerline cordura camoflage tool bag, $55, mytoolstore.com/klein

Tiny Post Earrings

I have a love for all things tiny--if it's miniature or petite in any way, I probably have a crush on it.  This definitely holds true with this collection of tiny stud earrings.  They're subtle enough that they could easily be worn every day, but are a fun, whimsical departure from my staple pearl earrings (I haven't taken them off since high school graduation...literally).

Rachel Leigh gold bows, $44, Revolve Clothing

Me&Ro 10K tiny gold studs with diamond eyes, $655, Me&Ro

Juicy Couture bow stud earrings, $40, Nordstrom

Jennifer Meyer Jewelry circle stud earrings, $150, Shopbop

Giles & Brother tiny horseshoe studs, $78, Shopbop

Giles & Brother skull stud earrings, $90, Shopbop

Giles & Brother tiny wishbone studs, $78, Shopbop

Bop Bijoux pyramid stud earrings, $60, Shopbop

Hello Again!

Apologies for being MIA for a few weeks, the magazine day job has been keeping me very busy! I haven't just been moping around ignoring my blogging duties...athough this shot makes that seem mighty tempting.  Iin a perfect world there would be a giant plate of baklava and some good wine on the nightstand.

Nymphenburg

I've written about my fascination with Nymphenburg porcelain before, and these new pieces don't disappoint.   While I usually think of porcelain as being stuffy and totally outdated, these are whimsical and fresh while still feeling classic.

You have to have a look at the amazing hand painting that goes into these pieces.  It's truly mesmerizing.

Big Five Collection

Bottle Corks

Commedia dell'Arte, Couture Edition

Pleat-Front Pants

I used to rail against pleat-front anything - men's pants, ladies pants, skirts - you name it.  I've definitely come around and I'm hunting for the perfect pair (or pairs) of pleat-front pants.  But it can be a tricky proposition, the waistband must fit perfectly (ill-fitting baggy and pleated is a recipe for oddly fat looking thighs),  the fabric must drape nicely and there can't be any crazy embellishment.

These remind me vaguely of great Colonial-era jodhpurs (without the insane thigh bulge).  They pouf just perfectly above the knee in a great, soft gather.

Vince pleated cropped pants, $116, Shopbop.com

The cropped pant tends towards casual, but worn with stellar heels these would look dramatic and definitely dressy.

City Style silky pleated ankle pants, $12, New York and Company

I'm always a sucker for the super high-waisted/wide leg combination.  I'd pair this with a slouchy grey American Apparel v-neck and some layered necklaces. 

Jean Paul Gaultier Wide Leg Pants, $114, zappos.com

This is the quintessential golf short that is probably the root of my fear of pleats.  Typically, I see these on people who actually fill out the pleats as if they were added to accommodate extra body mass so you don't have to size up.  Incorrect.  They are infinitely more flattering if they drape loosely against the body.  I love this casual, slinky pair.  Love them.

BR monogram bloomer short, $100, Banana Republic

Getting into the potentially oddly slouchy/baggy category here, but the stiff wool material and properly fitting waistband make me think these could be really cool in an architectural way.

Alice + Olivia Arthur Pants, $275, Shopbop.com

Charm Necklace

Everyone at the magazine seems to have one of these brilliant little charm-holder pendants.  These simple pieces (please stay away from the gaudy dolphin or grandma themed versions) are a refined way to wear more than one pendant at once.  Plus, I wouldn't mind an excuse to start buying a few gold charms here and there.

The basic pendant holder.

Gold pendant holder, $49, Amazon.com

I think this is the sweetest charm.  It looks like a simple letter, until you slide them apart to reveal the hidden love note.

Spread the Love, $140, Charm Co.

The most adorable way to mark a special day.

Custom Calendar, $375, Charm Co.

I'll add the charm from my favorite new necklace to the collection as well.  It's simple, dainty and will add just a bit of sparkle to the assortment.

Emma Jane & Tan diamond initial necklace, $450, Max and Chloe

You can engrave the inside of this passport with your favorite travel spots or a special message.

Engravable passport, $250, Charm Co.

The oddest charm I came across...a gold rotisserie chicken.  Wow.

from Ebay

The complete effect

charms from Ten Thousand Things

Cross Stitch

I learned to cross stitch from my grandma when I was really little and have been doing it ever since.  I stay miles away from the typical cute samplers and tend to gravitate towards elegant, antique looking patterns or really unconventional applications.  One of my most recent projects came as I was decorating the bedroom of our new apartment and decided we needed throw pillows everywhere.

I found some amazing striped silk at a discount fabric store (it sells remnants by the pound!) and decided it needed a monogram.  I taped the cross stitch fabric to the inside of the pillowcase and stitched following the grid through both layers of fabric.  It was far more time-consuming than a normal pattern because I couldn't see the grid from the fabric side (it was a lot of flipping back and forth for each stitch), but I think it was more than worth it in the end.

The finished product.  That's my initial and the boyfriend's interlaced in the center.

The pattern I used, and some other beautiful options...

from Antique Pattern Library - the most amazing source for cross stitch, embroidery, crochet etc...

Amazing Bookshelf

This is one of the most unique bookshelves I've ever seen with the books brilliantly nestled under each stair riser.  It might be a look that is hard to pull off in many traditional homes, but I can think of some tight Manhattan spaces that could use this ingenuity. 

 

Front of the stairs from the bottom of the staircase / straight down from above

from NeuBlack

Coffee Table Books

Coffee table books used to equal outdated, stuffy and dust allergies.  But just recently, I was snooping around a very well-appointed apartment and was won over by the colorful, modern collection of these sizable tomes.  Stacked neatly on the floor next to the sofa, under the glass coffee table and as a makeshift coffee table themselves, the books made the room (note to self: there weren't any volumes actually on the table).  Some of my favorites: 

Tom Ford / Yves Saint Laurent Style

Michael S. Smith, Elements of Style / Slim Aarons, Once Upon A Time

Avedon Fashion, 1944-2000 / The Fashion Book

Dior / Vanity Fair Portraits

Albert Seba's Cabinet of Natural Curiosities / The Little Dictionary of Fashion

Lachapelle, Artists & Prostitutes / Atlas of Human Anatomy and Surgery

Tony Duquette / Tim Walker, Pictures

A Privileged Life: Celebrating Wasp Style / Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People