Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear: Gimme!

I have never yet talked about menswear on here because generally it doesn't interest me. Sorry guys. I love a well dressed man as much as any other gal, but I like leaving men's fashion to the men. So when a menswear collection catches my eye it must be good (of course). The Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2013 collection is definitely that. It not only takes a fantastic twist on classic men's suits, it also incorporates very new amazing styles that are easily translatable into street style. Oh and there are some incredibly hug-able looks too. Isn't that what you want from your man, for him to be even more hug-able? Yea, that's what I thought. Anyway, take a look for yourself.




Are the giant scarves not AMAZING? The roommate wasn't for them, but what he doesn't know is he'd be getting a lot more hugs if he were wearing one. His loss. I am also a fan of the shiny dress shoes. They are not usually something I go for, but with all the neutrals they really gave the outfits a nice pop. And those asymmetrical vests in the 3-piece suits are incredible - I've never seen ties look so good and complimented by an outfit. Oh and the BAGS! The Fall/Winter Louis Vuitton man is obviously well traveled, but the bag obsession is probably just part of my own aesthetics.

The only thing I could have take out were the shiny, poofy winter coats. Unless you have a business trip to the Alps coming up, I really would rather not see those on the street. But I can forgive these based on the rest of the collection.


Criticisms this way please. What do you think? Nicely done or over-done?

Monday Design: Create Your Own Futuristic Office Space

Now, I love all things vintage and I know this is a brand-spanking-new design, BUT you can't tell me this desk table design by Turkish design firm Nüvist does not make you think of all those examples from the 60s of what the "future" would look like. Don't get me wrong, the design itself is fantastic. I love the organic shape and fluid feel. I imagine a viscous liquid that froze mid-pour. It would be an amazing focal piece in an otherwise sterile office space. All images via FreshHome.

But looking at the Volna table I still think it would fit in perfectly with the aesthetic in this 1960s depiction of a home from the future. Can you see it too or am I just a nut? Check out this artist's conception of a future home, would this organic desk fit right in? I can see the Brady Bunch going to see an exhibit on the "future" and seeing this desk.

via Oh So Lovely Vintage

It's probably just me, either way the Volna desk is a futuristic, space-age dream.

Fun fact: I just asked the roommate if he thinks this desk is cool and he looked at me like I'm crazy.  Am I the only one that thinks this is awesome? Ok, the desk in no way fits into the rustic-chic aesthetic that I usually go for, but if I were to design a modern office for perhaps a publishing company or advertising I would give these to the receptionist.

So tell me what you think about the Volna desk, awesome, interesting, or just plain weird?

Photo Friday: Teach Me About Tornadoes

No matter how many times I've seen it, I can't seem to get tired of the Museum of Science and Industry's weather exhibit. It's fun and interactive and there's wind tunnel! What more could you ask for. If you live in Chicago and have never been there or ever plan on stopping through, I highly recommend it. I have another couple free passes that expire in June and yes I do plan on going at least two more times before then. Plus, it sets up a really cool photo opportunity.

Have You Heard? Jason Wu for Target!

If you haven't heard already then you're probably living under a rock or under water or some other place without Internet access, because the news that my favorite designer is coming up with a collection for Target has been everywhere. I CANNOT be more excited that Jason Wu created an in-my-price-range collection for Target!! You better believe that on February 5th I will be waiting for the doors to open so I can snag some affordable Jason Wu pieces. I'm hoping I'll be one of the few crazy people waiting for the doors to open so I don't have to elbow anyone out of my way, but I am ready to throw bows if I have to. You have been warned.

Why I adore Jason Wu: his style is sophisticated and feminine with touches of clean, classic masculine lines. Everything of his I've seen plays with classic styles and structured shapes, but it's always fun and fresh at the same time. In short, it's perfect. So enough gushing, let's look at some items in the collection!

 

 

 

 

 all images via TeenVogue

So what do you say? Have I enticed you to join me bright and early on February 5th? You are more than welcome to as long as we are not the same size ;)

What I Wore Wednesday: Librarian Chic

Today's outfit post is actually part of a bigger post down the line. This is the vintage dress I wore to a fun project I finished this past weekend with another fashion blogger. Intrigued? Well you'll just have to keep checking back to see what it is!

In other news, Picnik, the free photo editing site I use is shutting down! I was so upset when I found out because it's what I use to do all of my photo editing. I now am on the hunt for a different photo editing site, but until Picnik is completely shut down all of its premium features are free to use! So with that in mind, please excuse any crazy photo effects in the coming weeks. I'm having fun paying around with it. :)
 

Tuesday Trendspotting: All That Glitters is Gold

Like every Christmas season, you can expect to see a lot of gold and silver. Metallics just seem to go so well with celebrating the holiday season, but usually they get shoved back into the recesses of our closets when the tree comes down. Well not this year. We are now well into January and I'm still seeing a surge of metallic washes, most notably gold. Looks like gold is here to stay, at least for a little while longer. I mean, it's no surprise that one would see gold touching the pieces of the Alexander McQueen 2012 resort collection but it's really in the outfits of other fashion bloggers that it's been catching my eye. Don't get me wrong, this is not a complaint. I always saw that I need more gold and I was not planning on retiring my gold sequin shorts after New Year's eve, so a big thumbs up to this one!

1. The Glamourai
2. Sea of Shoes
3. Lookbook
4. Alexander McQueen
5. Lookbook

I love the idea of incorporating a little bit of flash into my everyday wear. I mean, that's basically how I live my life, but if everyone's doing it maybe I'll get less funny looks when I walk down the street.

So what do you say? Gold = holiday only or year round?

Monday Design: Clean and Eclectic

Today via my favorite interior design blog, Desire to Inspire, I found an amazing photography duo in Amelia and Andreas Lönngren Widell. They have an impressive photography portfolio, but of course I gravitated towards their photos of interiors and I have to say that our tastes match up exactly if these two chose all these locations. Any of these interiors could have easily been pulled from my dreams. In case you haven't noticed yet, my dream home would consist of clean and modern furniture with rustic touches. I love that this first interior shoot does just that. The walls are simple and white and the furniture is pretty basic, but the collection of stuff, for lack of a better term, makes it feel perfectly home-y.

This living room is simple, clean, and eclectic.  I love it!

I love the steel greys in this living room with the pops of color in the pillow on the couch, but I have to admit that I included this photo because there is an adorable puppy in it!

Loving everything about this living room from he vintage crate coffee table to the old fire stove in the corner just reaffirms my belief that I secretly want to be a cowgirl.

There is something mysterious about this lone-standing chair. No? Just me?

What design elements live in your dream space?

Photo Friday: Downtown by the pier

It's snowing here today. A lot. I'm trying not to get let it get me down and trying to remember what sunshine looks like. Hopefully, I'll get to see it again at some point this weekend. Hope you're having a good one :)

Thursday Tutorial: DIY Metal Shirt Collar Necklace

Yes, there was one weekend where I got pretty crafty and decided to make some of the things I've been watching in my trendspotting. When I first wrote this post on metal shirt collars, I wasn't sure what I thought of them so I thought I would make one for myself to find out. I still has some sheet metal laying around from a different project and all the tools, so it wasn't going to cost me anything. Here it is! A Metal Shirt Collar Necklace Tutorial! Outfit post to come.

What I Wore Wednesday: The Velvet Skirt Underground Edition

Do you remember my trendspotting post where I was gushing over velvet as the fabric for this winter? Well I decided I needed a velvet skirt to survive this miserable season, but not being able to find exactly what I wanted I decided to do a little DIY magic and make one for myself! You like?

Sweater: Local boutique
Velvet skirt: DIY
Buckle heels: Target

 I'm no seamstress so (big surprise) it didn't turn out perfect, but it's soft and longer than all the other skirts I was finding in stores. Long story short, I'm extremely happy with it even though I have to sort of wiggle into it. I wanted it to be a bit high-waisted and didn't quite plan out what would happen when the waist was narrower than my hips and my stitches didn't stretch. Do any of you sew? How do I make a stretchy skirt where the stitches won't pull when putting it on? I should probably look at a couple tutorials before trying to sew anything again. For now, it works.

 And yes, you have seen this sweater before, but doesn't it look good with everything? I think so too.

Three tier necklace and bird ring: local boutique
Rock ring and bracelets: Urban Outfitters and vintage

That's all I've got for today. I know that velvet is generally a very holiday fabric, but it feels so appropriate in these single digit degree days. So what do you say, is velvet fabric for the holiday only?

Home Design: Gilded Accents

I have to admit, I laid around watching the Golden Globes last night and in all the glitz, glamor, and sparkly ball gowns I had to write a little gold inspiration post. The Golden Globe stage kind of looked like Superman's iced fortress of solitude, but there were these pretty little gold accents wrapped around some tall clear Lucite poles. That got me thinking about glided accents in design.

Adding in gold accents in home decor is a fantastic way to instantly give a room a more regal feel, but it can of course be over-done. Adding gold touches in perhaps a mirror or the arms and legs of an armchair can really make you feel like you're living in a queen's living room, even if the rest of the house is more shabby chic than elegantly royal. Making everything in the room gold toned can instantly turn your living room into the lobby of a hotel in Las Vegas. Unless you enjoy feeling like you live in a casino, I suggest going for the more subtle touches. Not sure what I mean? Keep scrolling, I found some perfect examples that make me want to grab my can of gold spray paint and start redecorating!

via

I love the gold legs on these little stools. The velvet makes them look especially regal.

 via
I'd love to wake up in this bed every morning. Wouldn't you? Especially if there was always breakfast in bed involved.

via

Ok, honesty time, it makes me a little uncomfortable to have a giant mirror right over the bath tub, but the giant gold frame adds a gorgeous touch of elegance to an otherwise very simply decorated bathroom.

via
I just realized that all of these pictures are of gold and white home accents. Apparently that's what I think looks best.

via
I just love this gold and cream chair. It's location in the bathroom? Not so much.

via
I wonder if gold fabric paint would work to turn this chair into a DIY?

via

This is more gold toned than anything else, but there are some pretty gilded accents on the doors. Something about this room makes me want to classify it as modern Egyptian. Just me?

Do you have any gold accents in your home?