I am obsessed with Prada, and I cannot hide it any longer! (okay it is not a secret to anyone who knows me... I received a pair of Prada loafers for my high school graduation, and I have been in love ever since.) There are times that I think that Prada could solve all of the ills in the world (okay I know this is not true, but their collections make me really happy). This season there are some really interesting items that I think are so awesome, that is hurts.
I am not cool enough to pull these shoes off, but I still love them. These would be awesome with a pair of black dress pants and a button-up. I wouldn't recommend them for a formal occasion, but for a date they would be perfect.
There are not words for how much I love these shoes. I have visited them at Saks seventeen times. I have stroked their supple leather, and drooled all over them. I need these shoes or I will die (Okay I am being dramatic, but I really like these shoes). I would wear them with jeans or khakis with a button-up and a blazer. They would complete my shoe collection (at least until next season...).
Who ever said that briefcases need to be boring?!?! Definitely not Prada! This briefcase has a high gloss to it that will make anyone stand out in the humdrum world of corporate America. PLUS IT IS BLUE!!!! So, it is a something to add a slight pop of color to your daily life.
I am totes obsessed with totes! (Do you see what I did there?) I think that a tote bag is the perfect bag for any occasion. This one is is fun! The little silhouettes really make this bag stand out in a subtle way. I would get the blue one, since I am partial to blue. This bag would be great to take to the grocery store to carry your eggs and milk, or to the park carrying all of the essentials for a great picnic.
These photographs are amazing. It is old world elegance with a modern twist. The campaign was shot by David Sims, and features Gary Oldman, Garrett Hedlund, Jamie Bell, and Willem Dafoe. The campaign, "...layers different codes of dress in a subtle parody of power and role-play," according to the Prada site. These photographs make me want to rush to Neiman Marcus and buy everything that I can get my hands on from their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection.
I am a sucker for a good drink. Hands down my favorite drink is the sidecar (you can ask any of my close friends). I could go on a long rant about where it was developed and when, but I think it is more fun to watch Cointreau and Dita Von Teese explain the drink's origins.
I am fairly certain that Dita Von Teese was not there that cold night, but it is fun to imagine that she was.
I strongly recommend that you use fresh lemon juice, it makes the flavor of the drink divine. I prefer to use organic lemons, but non-organic lemons will suffice in a pinch. The drink is good with or without the sugar rim, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth. Therefore, I can never turn down a sugar rimmed glass. There are many ways to go about this, but there is only one way that I do it. Take a lemon wedge and slice down the center without cutting completely to the rind. Run the sliced wedge along the rim of a dry martini glass (please use a martini glass, you should never drink it out of a tumbler *shudder*). Then dip the rim in a dish of sugar. By using a lemon (which is one of the ingredients in the cocktail), you do not risk ruining the flavor of your drink. If you use water to get the sugar to adhere to your glass, it gives the sugar a bland taste (trust me on this, my friend Amy and I have done multiple experiments).
Cointreau is around $30 for a 750 mL bottle, Remy Martin VSOP Cognac is around $35 for a 750 mL bottle, and lemons can be found for around 3 for $1 (at your local grocery store)
Cointreau and Remy Martin VSOP Cognac are stocked at your local liquor store.
Who doesn't love a sweater with a whale on it? This beauty from Jil Sander is fun, and it's a great shade of green (which makes me love it even more, since I look great in green). I see this sweater as something to add a bit of whimsy to a wardrobe. It could also be used as an ice-breaker at a party! Mr. Porter has paired it with a pair of black Alexander McQueen trousers and a Paul Smith shirt, but I think it would look great with your favorite pair of dark wash jeans (which for me would be my Hudson- Harper straight-leg jeans) and sneakers. Which makes this sweater as versatile as it is fun.
Close-up of the whale on the Jil Sander sweater
Jil Sander Whale Intarsia Camel and Wool-Blend Sweater ($610)
Jil Sander Whale Intarsia Camel and Wool-Blend Sweater can be found at Mr. Porter for $610
This is the bag of my dreams. Gucci's Woven Leather Holdall has stolen my heart. I love every part of this bag, from its hand stained leather to its suede lining. I mean look at the woven detail!
Woven Detail of Gucci Woven Leather Holdall
I will give you a moment to recover from its beauty and grandeur. When I saw this bag on Mr. Porter, I began to lust after it. I have been staring at it at least 5 times a day. My favorite part is how subtle the Gucci logo is on the side, it doesn't scream look at me. Which makes the bag even more attractive.
A view of the luxurious suede lining
Plus look at those handles! I like that they continued the woven theme in the handles. I feel that it pulls the whole bag together.
Side View of the Gucci Woven Leather Holdall
The Gucci Woven Leather Holdall is available from Mr. Porter for $4,700
If you have not tried this, you need to stop reading this and run to your local liquor store. I am not joking, this stuff has changed my life. St-Germain (the liqueur not to be confused with the Catholic Saint) is made from elderberry flowers. It was released in 2007, and uses fresh elderberry flowers to make this delicious concoction. It lacks the preservatives found in most cordials, so it must be finished within 6 months of opening (which will not be a problem, trust me). I discovered this beauty at a local wine shop, the sales associate suggested it with a nice bottle of Cava. I was doubtful at first, but as soon as I had my first sip I was hooked. The St-Germain website has a bunch of great drink recipes. Since I am a fan of bourbon, I tried their version of an Old Fashioned. It was awesome (partially because I didn't have to muddle the ingredients). The St-Germain took the place of the sugar, and honestly I might like their version more than the original. I had a sweet tooth the night when I made the drink so I added a 1/2 part more than they suggested, which only increased my love of this heavenly libation. So far I have only tried it in a Traditional Elderfashioned, St-Germain Gin & Tonic, and St-Germain and Champange. (I would have tried more drink recipes but I ran out, so I suggest buying more than bottle at a time!)
It is hot outside, but it is freezing in my apartment. This has led me on an expedition for winter coats. I found one that makes me weak in the knees along with a couple of other items from Burberry. I swear their wool blend military greatcoat is making me drool. I don't know how Burberry does it, but they seem to make things that are edgy yet tasteful.
Burberry Brit Wool Blend Military Greatcoat (on left $1295) & Burberry Brit Wool Blend Chesterfield Coat (on right $995)
This summer has been unbearably hot, and since it is not acceptable to run around naked, I bought a ton of shorts. Oddly enough they are all the same style from the same store, which I didn't realize until I had purchased 3 pairs of the same shorts. I swear if someone held a gun to my head and told me that I could only wear these shorts for the rest of my life, I would be okay with that (that is until I froze to death in the winter). These shorts are the perfect length (9"), and weight. Even on the hottest day I never feel like my shorts are too heavy or long. The best part is that they come in 12 colors from chester brown (my favorite) to vibrant flame.
J. Crew 9" Stanton Short ($59.50- pictured in Dusty Berry more colors available)
J. Crew 9" Stanton Short ($59.50- pictured in Chester Brown more colors available)
J. Crew 9" Stanton Short ($59.50- pictured in Vibrant Flame more colors available)
These shorts can be found at www.jcrew.com or at your local J. Crew
