#116 Lavender Summer

Lavender seems to be popping up everywhere. Maybe it's the start of the summer bringing along lovely colors with it. This shade feels modern, but not so in your face like some other colors I have a penchant for (hello, neon yellow!). It's a perfect alternative to brights for your  outfit, nails or wall.  I'm sooo tempted to paint a lavender wall now.  I have a sickness and it revolves around wanting to paint everything, all the time.  


I hope everyone has a sweet summery weekend! 

via stylecaster

 via topshop & essie

via tales of endearment

shades of lavender you can find at Home Depot

lovely streetscape via princess michelle

#110 Secrets & Shopping

What's the secret to the perfect Fall wardrobe? Perfect boots? Perfectly cozy cardigan sweater? Cute hat & gloves? A new fall bag? I'm pretty sure it's a combination of all these and more (forgot to mention jackets, scarves & a pile of crunchy leaves!).  Something doesn't feel quite right with my current wardrobe though.  So, I've decided to do a wardrobe "make-under" (check it out at MakeunderMyLife.com).  It started last week.  I took everything out of my closet & put it all on the bed in my guest room. "Nice job!" I told myself.  The next day I get an email from a friend who's coming to visit.  Yay!  Friends!  Pile of clothes returned promptly to closet.  This week I'm going to start afresh.  No trying to get out of making decisions by just throwing clothes in the guest room.  No trying to keep everything and just rearranging it.  I'm going to be serious about only keeping things that fit my perfect wardrobe.

unrealistic dream of a wardrobe via pinterest

My other remedy to the wardrobe blahs has been to go shopping.  How come there are so many good deals?!  Here are my newest wardrobe additions to shake up the massive piles of t-shirts & jeans that have taken over my closet.  A leopard print coat (I'm not normally a leopard print kinda girl, but I'll try anything once), grey practical (i.e. "flat") loafers & a deep forest green a-line wool skirt (totally chic & goes with all those t-shirts).  I'm still dying for a new bag...

latest & greatest: Old Navy leopard print coat, Sole Society Capri loafers, J. Crew skirt

What's your secret to the perfect fall wardrobe?  And if you have any wardrobe make-over/under secrets, I'd take those too.

#68 How To Avoid Being Homeless

Easiest answer to that is find an apartment.  Sounds relatively simple right?  Well, not exactly...  The fun part of a new apartment= decorate the apartment!!  Wish I could skip the "finding" portion and move right to the "decorating" portion, but everything comes in its due time.  

Inspiration!

 photo via coco+kelley

A bit too fancy, but the colors are right up my alley!
 

photo via somewhere I forgot, if u know where it's from let me know!

A bit too minimal, but if you've ever been to my apartment you know how much I love photographs and artwork!

photo via also somewhere I forgot...

Just right!  Such a bright happy room! 

#64 Summer Skin Rules

The other day I was walking down the street, toodling along.  When I was stopped in my tracks.  There was a girl sitting in a restaurant with her back to the window.  She was wearing an amazing dress similar to the one below but in white.  It was a wonderfully beautiful sight for two reasons...

1.  It's a sophisticated way to show off some skin.
2.  It's actually warm enough to wear skin-baring dresses!

Lesson learned here?  Keep it classy, kids.

photo via shopbop

#30 Golden Night

black+ gold =  fastest, easiest way to look totally chic

Example: those days when you are totally stressed out and can't even handle the decision-making process of what to wear in the morning.  My solution is to pull on a pair of dark jeans, a black top, and my favorite long gold necklace that goes with just about everything.  All done, with the decision-making limited to whether the shirt is short sleeve or long sleeve. 

black+ gold =  fastest, easiest way to look glam and sexy

Example: throw on black dress with gold heels. Done.  Or a combo of any of the following...especially the gold blazer... yowza!

necklace from colorblindsmarties, earrings & necklace from AK Vintage

gold blazers and embellished dresses from the Balmain Fall 2010 Collection via WWD

#23 California Style

I always feel like Californians are very lucky this time of year.  I mean, lacy tops with blue jeans in the middle of winter!!  Soooo lucky.  But, I have heard all the beautiful weather becomes a bit monotonous to those of us not accustomed to constant sunshine.  No dramatic storms or snowfalls.  No fried food or unhealthy sweets... I would never survive.

photo via cupcakes and cashmere

#12 On Personal Style

Things I would never be drawn to other people love. Other people love other people, and they love other people. Each of us knows other people's style and ideas and how someone works some of the time. We all surprise each other, even our best friends. Everyone's thoughts enter into a sphere above us. I begin to think we all understand in total and come to the same conclusion, but we don't. We take what we want to hear and sleep when we need...
...gelato...gelato...gelato...

pink grapefruit and champagne sorbet via style at home january 2010, photography by william meppem, styling by steve pearce via {this is glamorous}