I usually put together a mental list of must have items I would like to acquire with each fashion season. One season I extensively searched for the perfect riding boot. I found it, thanks to Steve Madden. Another season I wanted a denim vest. Thank you H&M for making me look like a bounty hunter.

I almost put harem pants on the list but M.C. Hammer has forever ruined my interest in making harem pants look fashionable.

One item that I’ve had on my list for years is a little black dress. The LBD is one garment that every woman needs in her wardrobe. It transcends seasons and pairs well with any shoe or accessory. I dreamed of the perfect LBD. I imagined what that LBD would look like when I found it, how I would try it on in the dressing room and not run out crying and banishing myself to the racks of Lane Bryant for the rest of my life. Instead, it would fit like a glove as I zip it up then look at myself in the mirror and say, damn I look good.

I found my LBD. Thank you Forever 21.

Here I’m planning to pair it with a pair of platform booties I also picked up at F21 and a vintage leopard necklace for a wedding reception this weekend. I’m so excited about my purchase that I wish I had more formal events to dress up for, otherwise I’d be wearing this dress until it falls apart at the seams.

Damn I look good.

I even checked to see if my boobs stay in when I dance and jump around.

Shimmer Woven Dress, $24.80, Forever 21
Booties, $29.80, Forever 21
Vintage leopard necklace, $24.00, Love Me Two Times Consignment & Bridal Boutique

If you’d rather spend your weekend inside with an air conditioner or a fan directly blowing on your face while all the chumps go out in the heat, you can spend the whole weekend browsing Style Like U.

I’m completely obsessed with what people have in their closets, especially the most stylish people I know of and this website gives us a peek into what some of those people have in their wardrobes. There’s a long roster of names of the most intriguing people from Andrew Mukamal, our favorite assistant to Kelly Cutrone, to RZA, one of the founders of Wu Tang Clan, to blogger of Garbage Dress, Zana Bayne.

By the way, Kelly Cutrone shows us her closet at Bluefly Closet Confessions. And her little cutie Ava shows off her pink wardrobe too!

This week has been very active in Paris because the Fall 2010 Couture presentations have been showing. These are some of my favorite looks from the following design houses but there are more to be seen at the Style website.

I’m unsure of what I think about Chanel. It’s like a combination platter of Chanel meets grunge-era Marc Jacobs meets the puffiness of Viktor + Rolf meets garden club meets… something else.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Armani Prive

Valentino

Christian Dior

Jean Paul Gautier

Chanel

All images courtesy of Style.com

The last time I wore a pair of clogs was 1995 maybe? They were a dark brown color and my favorite aspect of it besides the heel/platform were the studs that held attached the leather to the sole. Once I grew out of them my taste in shoes moved on from that style and I eventually saw clogs as outdated. They were popular in the 1970s, briefly in the 1990s, and I assumed I wouldn’t see them gain popularity again for a long time. I was kind of right, I mean, it’s fifteen years later and guess where I first saw clogs reappear? On the Chanel runway. CHANEL. CHA. NEL. Thanks to Karl Lagerfeld he has reignited my love for these beauties with a wooden platform. Sans bellbottom pants.

Now I’m on a quest to find the most affordable pair that I like. I’ve found these but I haven’t fallen in love with any of them, so the search continues…

Chanel
 

Miu Miu
 

KORS Michael Kors Claudia, $250
 

COACH Rana, $188
 

Sam Edelman Flair, $150.95
 

Steve Madden Carnee, $129.95
 

Jeffrey Campbell Charli-C, $124.95
 

N.Y.L.A. Rhedyn, $99.95
 

Jessica Simpson Winsy, $90.95
 

Alice + Olivia for Payless Hampton Studded Clog, $39.99

Whenever I get a chance to step out of the house to run errands and fit a little shopping in I have been buying things for Aiden. I love consignment shopping for baby clothes because the clothes are practically new and they’re very affordable. Actually, what I love even more is that at most of the stores where I shop, they sell baby clothes too. So if I go check out sale racks at H&M, I can peruse the sales in the baby section too. It’s practically one-stop shopping and it’s great!

But, I’d like to go shoe shopping. I am in dire need of a summer sandal. Don’t get me wrong, my Old Navy flip flops are nice and easy to slip into on the go, but I think my feet deserve better. Michael Kors wedge, this is where you come in…

I’m obsessed with stripes. Though I’m undecided on how I feel about wearing horizontal stripes. Do they really make me look wider or no? Whatever the case I still have a bunch of striped blouses & sweaters in my wardrobe.

I especially love the Breton striped sailor shirt. It’s so french. (I really love anything French.) I have a handful of striped shirts and sweaters but only one that closely resembles Breton stripes and even then it’s not really a shirt, more like a light hoodie with three-quarter sleeves.

So, I think I’m trying too hard to persuade myself to go shopping.

Here’s some Breton Stripe porn.

WhoWhatWear 
 

1 Piece, 5 Ways 
 

Elle Street Chic Daily 
 

Cali V. on Lookbook / Cali Vintage 
 

Rachel Marie on Lookbook / Jag Lever 
 

Adrianne on Lookbook / Blondie 
 

Blonde Bedhead 
 

What We Wore

If there was a shoe that screamed SUMMER! it would be this espadrille wedge bootie by Christian Louboutin. I love it because it combines my love of booties and espadrille wedges. Who knew it could be done? Apparently the designers at Louboutin knew! That makes me love CL even more.

[ $495 at Bergdorf Goodman ]

Yeahhhh. So I’ve been doing quite a bit of online shopping lately. Mostly stuff for the baby but I did splurge on a really nice item the other day…

But I really liked it! It was the last one! I got it on sale! Don’t look at me like that!

No really, it was originally $220 but on sale for $99. That’s a bargain, man.

It can hold a pacifier and some baby wipes…

I’m in the process of sewing Aiden some formal wear to debut at my sister Joan’s wedding in the fall. First thing, a bow tie. Just because it looks so much cuter than a regular tie. I’m planning to sew a few buttons and ruffles onto a plain white onesie also. I like the idea of designing him a one-of-a-kind ensemble more than buying one. Although, if I find a nice suit for cheap between now and the wedding, I might nix this whole project altogether.

I just outed myself about being a cat person if you don’t know already. I love cats and various cat objects. As a kid I collected any cat figurines and toys I could get my hands on. Plus I’m crazy about Hello Kitty. So you know I went CRAZY over these Miu Miu Satin Cat Mary Janes from the Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection (see the whole collection for more cat and sparrow craziness).

Aaaaand Miu Miu made these with sparrows on them.

I think I equally love them both. If only by some crazy parallel universe miracle these shoes would go on sale about $500 cheaper I’d buy them. I’ll wait until they become labeled vintage and I can afford them.