Fair Isle

Isn't it funny how things that we used to think were lame and uncool are now trendy and stylish?  That's exactly what I think every time I see a Fair Isle sweater.  While they used to be what your scary Uncle Bob wore to Sunday dinner, they are now staples in numerous collections from J.Crew to Isabel Marant.  My girlfriend and I actually pondered last week, "What does Fair Isle really mean?  Is it a place?"  The answer to that, my little wiki-lovers is this: Fair Isle is not only a style of knitting with multiple colors of yarn, but it's also a tiny island in the north of Scotland.  They were made famous by Edward VIII who wore Fair Isle tank tops in the 1920's.  Sounds hot huh?  I bet he had some short-shorts on with that snazzy tank top.  I need to holla at him! 

How's that for a history lesson dolls?

So, this sweater isn't the traditional picture that comes to mind when I think Fair Isle, but it's as close as I feel comfortable getting.  It doesn't have knitted snowflakes or any of that crap on it, but I love that it has 3/4 sleeves and that it's gray.  Two of my favorite things in a cold weather top. The other super cool thing about it is that it looks like it's knitted inside out so it has a deconstructed feel.  Too bad my accessories get stuck in it every two seconds, but I can deal.  The real find of the century were these boots.  I have been looking for a perfectly simple and chic pair of cognac boots for years.  Not too brown and not too red. Cognac, y'all.  The leather is so soft and you don't feel like you are wearing ankle shackles.  They're like butta'.  Do yourself a solid and type in BRSALE40 for 40% off.  My little Christmas gift to you!

Sweater: J.Crew | Blouse: J.Crew | Vest: J.Crew | Skirt: Banana Republic | Bag: K. Sera | Boots: Banana Republic | Necklace: Factory | Bracelets: Stella & Dot, Cara's, Bauble Bar

xoxo,
sarah

Leopard and Lace

Hi dolls!  I hope your week has been as eventful as mine, but hopefully a little less stressful.  As you may notice, I got my hair did and it's a bit lighter, not to mention shorter.  What do you think?  My hair doesn't grow super fast, as I've mentioned before, and hasn't been cut in over a year!  I was feeling a little drab, so I had several inches taken off and had layers added.  I have to admit, I'm slightly ecstatic about wearing it straight.  All this curling and blowdrying has certainly taken its toll, so I hope it gets healthy as a result.

In other news, I have been hardcore wedding dress shopping like there is no tomorrow.  I've been informed that I'm well behind on the order dates, so a quick decision is in order.  I've got my heart set on a dress that is way out of my budget, so I've been trolling Preownedweddingdress.com for a possible solution.  I'm going to give it until next Friday, but I'm afraid I will need to pull the trigger on a back-up.  At least I have a plan right?  I had no idea that I would be this obsessive over a dress, but I should have known.  It's simply in my blood to look at all (and I mean all) options before making a decision.  Some may call that procrastination, but I call it over-analysis!

When I walked out the door in this sweet little number today, it was 73 and humid.  I left the office only the find that the temperatures had dropped into the 40's and I was freezing my little toosh off!  The great thing about this dress is that it transcends the seasons and easily goes from day to night.

Jacket: H&M | Dress: F21 | Tights: Victorias Secret | Booties: Vince Camuto (old) | Bag: Alexander Wang | Bracelets: J.Crew, Stella & Dot, Cara's Boutique  Necklace: Benevolent Jewels

xoxo,

sarah

Alleyway

When my mom moved out of state, our agreement was that we wouldn't go more than 6 weeks without seeing one another, so she is back here visiting me for the week.  I've been wanting to take pics in my alleyway (glamourous, I know) but I was afraid one of the neighbors would run over me and crush my tripod in a rush to get to work.  For old times sake, Mom was sweet enough to take my photos today and I loved the way they turned out.  She makes a great photographer!

Blouse: love Fire via Nordstrom Rack

Leggings: Romeo and Juliet Couture Matte Liquid Leggings via Last Call, very similar

Scarf: picked up from a consignment store in Powell, OH, similar

Boots: Vince Camuto Baileys Boots

Bag: Alexander Wang Emile

Necklace: J.Crew Factory Brass-Plated Crystal Necklace

Bracelets: J.Crew, vintage Hermes, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, F21

Rings: YSL Arty, F21

Glasses: Prada Baroque Round in Tonal Taupe

Tartan Fling

The temperature here in Dallas is refusing to go below 85 degrees, so I thought if I wore faux fur yesterday, I could encourage colder temperatures.  I get so excited when the seasons change because I get to pull out pieces like this vest, coats, boots and the like.  There is no doubt that I will be crying in a couple months when I am freezing to death at fifty degrees, but I am totally ready for it right now. For the record, I wore this for about 15 minutes and had to change because I overheated.  At least I looked cute standing outside my house taking photos while my neighbor peeked through her window.  They must think I'm absolutely nuts...

On another note, I've been carried a busted wallet for awhile now.  It doesn't close and is coming apart at the seams, literally.  I received it for my 21st birthday and have abused it for nearly a decade.  I received a FedEx package last week from my mother than included this beautiful Kate Spade Wellesley Zippered Travel Wallet and I am in love with it!  It's big enough to carry as a clutch, and, more importantly, big enough to house all my junk.  As if I'm not spoiled enough, when I opened up the wallet, there was also a pair of Kate Spade Take a Bow Earrings and $20.  Who's mother puts money in their wallet?  Mine does.  Boom.

Top: J.Crew Factory Classic Button Down in Plaid

Vest: Target Kids (old), similar for $30!

Skirt: Thrifted, but identical

Bag: Kate Spade Wellesley Zippered Travel Wallet, mine came from the outlet, but here is this season

Belt: Thrifted

Heels: Banana Republic Mad Men Collection

Bracelets: vintage Hermes, J.Crew Pave Link Bracelet

Ring: F21 (old)

Necklaces: West Avenue, F21, J.Crew

It's True What They Say...

Horizontal stripes definitely aren't slimming... but I don't care because guess what?  I got this dress for free!  That's right!  Found it in the black hole, a.k.a. my fourth bedroom, that is filled to the brim with clothes that have yet to be organized and placed in a closet. I'm getting really good at this whole budgeting thing ;)  Have a great weekend loves!

Dress: F21 (old), similar and probably fits better!

Vest: J.Crew Factory, similar

Wedges: Steve Madden

Bag: A. Wag

Belt: vintage Versace

Necklace: West Avenue via Max & Chloe

Bracelets: J.Crew, Kate Spade, vintage Hermes

xoxo,

sarah

Leopard Lush

I came into my room a few days ago, exhausted after a long day of work, and I sh*t you not there lies no less than five pairs of leopard shoes in front of the mirror that I had vetoed earlier in the day.  Five years ago, you couldn't have gotten me near anything animal print, simply because I felt it was best left to Fred Flinstone and middle aged cougars who were trying to hard.  Now, I'm a full blown Animal Print Aficionado.  I've got leopard flats, wedges, pointy toe pumps, peep toes, and booties.  I've got belts of every size, shape, and hide.  I've got gorgeous coats rescued from the bowels of Goodwill.  There is a poor black and white cow who's been rolled into a pancake and is sitting underneath my coffee table.  It's a little much, but it may as well be a pair of black trousers to me.  It's a design staple, I wear it all the time, and it's going nowhere fast.

 Top: J.Crew Factory

Denim: F2, old but love this brighter color

Heels: Christian Louboutin 

Belt: J.Crew

Bag: Alexander Wang

Glasses: Ann Taylor

Bracelets: Kate Spade, J.Crew, F21, vintage Hermes

Necklace: West Avenue via Max and Chloe

Do y'all have an animal print problem, too?

xoxo,

sarah