A New Year

High hopes for 2011 (clockwise):

Adventures.

Stop fighting my wavy hair.

Hello, sequins.

Notice the pretty little things.

This is going to end on a super-mushy note, in which I thank you all for so kindly taking me in as one of your own. My mom, who, though I love her immensely, has no computer proficiency whatsoever, asked me what a blog is — what is the point, and why does it not qualify as a magazine or something of the sort? The only answer I could come up with is the same reason that I love blogging: for me, it's an assortment of the prettiest and littlest things in the world, which have all come together to slap me in the face, gently, with a solid dose of sheer delight. Thank you for your support, your sweet comments, and for sharing everything lovely along the way.

And now, champagne!

New Year's Chic

I'm a cat, and Alice & Olivia is just dangling a goldfish in front of my face with their nightlife-themed lookbook. Isn't this the perfect inspiration for fresh New Year's Eve ensembles? I'm a sucker for the black and white palette with the only occasional glimpses of gold and silver — the simple shades keep voluminous ruffles, gleaming sequins, and soft velvet from looking too gaudy or ostentatious. The vibe isn't in-your-face so much as it is "Oh, is it 2011 already? Perfect, hand me another glass of Prosecco so I can toast a year of looking fantastic."

Because you know 2011 will be the year of looking, feeling, and being fantastic.

Girl Crush

Audrey Tautou, natch. Versatile, charming, and ever so elegant.

[photo cred to Listal]

Love Potion No. 9

Last week, I waltzed into my room and found this Love Potion No. 9 sweater on my bed. I must have missed the memo that Love Potion No. 9 is actually not only a famous movie, but a famous song as well. Even my grandmother knew it. I, on other hands, saw the Chanel No. 5 bottle (made of SEQUINS) and knew that Love Potion No. 9 would be my drink of choice forever and ever and ever. I might wear this for New Year's eve, dressing it up a bit more with a black chiffon miniskirt and my white and silver Lanvin flats.

In other news, I got the Kate Spade Book of the Month clutch for Christmas! The cover of the Great Expectations version is black and grey with hints of neon pink, meaning it will go perfectly with just about everything in my wardrobe. I also received J Brand waxed venom skinny jeans — this wouldn't be that exciting except for the wax treatment, which gives the jeans a sheen that resembles leather. I'm the antithesis of a badass, so these make my dream of leather pants attainable but not completely frightening. Or maybe I'll use the leather look of the jeans as my excuse for getting in a little more trouble in the new year... I'll go to bed later than eleven and refuse to take my daily multivitamin, really living it up.

P.S. My boyfriend had me convinced that he'd bought me a pair of pajama jeans for Christmas. I was trying to figure out how to mask my look of disdain last night when he pulled a little Tiffany blue box out of his pocket — no feigned joy there. He gave me a beautiful pair of sterling silver earrings; I have incredibly simple taste in jewelry, and these were perfect. He's a keeper, no?

Guest Post!

My guest post is up at College Prep! Carly is super, super sweet, and I was so flattered to be asked to write about my manic obsession for all things pretty and preppy. You can find my post here, and thanks again to College Prep!

[photo cred to Vogue May 2010 via Dress Design & Decor]

A Christmas Weekend

Merry Christmas weekend, everyone! The next few days, I'm polishing up a guest blog post (my first ever — so excited!) and cooking manicotti and stuffed ricotta shells for fifteen members of my extended Italian family. Naturally, nothing is wrapped and I've been subsisting on my mother's oatmeal raisin cookies. It could be worse... I could have hidden presents so well that I can't find them and accidentally finished off all of my mom's carefully-decorated Christmas cookies. Both of which may have happened in the past. 

Here's to a joyful and lovely Christmas!

[photo cred to Loving Life, Style Me Pretty, A Whole Lotta Love, and IMDB]

Holiday Chic

The Bryant Park Corp kindly, and very generously, invited me to attend a holiday soirée earlier this week at the Empire State Building's new Empire Lounge. When I first received the email, I blushed for ten minutes. Even though I wasn't able to make it due to the terrifyingly overpriced entity that is MetroNorth, I did find the time to hunt down the perfect dresses for the occasion. 

This Anna Sui dress, on the left, is wrought with sequins and tulle and somehow, remains elegant and sophisticated. I saw it and immediately wanted to take it out for a steak dinner and drinks, maybe a movie. Unfortunately, the love of my life is not only light years out of my price range, but sold out. Bad for me, but very good for my wallet. Plus, the fact that I couldn't have it even if I did have the money helps the loss to sting a little bit less.

The French Connection frock, on the right, would be a happy replacement, particularly for my budget. It sparkles. It offers a lusciously draped hemline that would be perfect for twirling and a feminine neckline with tasteful embellishment. The only thing that kills me are the thin straps — something more substantial would add a solid dose of sophistication. I would've fixed that by pairing it with a shrunken, grey-sequined jacket that I just bought, as well as simple grey suede heels.

As I imagine this ensemble and subsequently begin to kick myself, please remind me to never pass up a holiday party at the Empire State Building. Tell me to buck up, down two shots of espresso, and stop worrying about going by myself and being awkward and drinking free Ketel cocktails in the corner all night. Because when I think about it, that's really not a bad scenario in which to find myself. 

Lady Grey

Dear slouchy grey tee,

Come to mama.

Forever yours,

Deanna

[photo cred to Intermix and Pretty Stuff]

To Do, 2011

6. Dress like a girl.

I was born and raised in New York, meaning that most of my clothing is black or grey. Or navy. I own one peach-hued James Perse tee and I believe that that's it. I want to start indulging in pops of color, incorporating them just subtly enough that it doesn't look too awkward with my usual dark palette. A gold belt here, a pair  of red shoes there. I'd might as well combine this with my effort to dress more like a girl — my uniform isn't even boyish, but full-on lazy: grey tee, skinny jeans, a soft leather jacket, dark blue suede boots, every single day. I have so many Diane Von Furstenberg and Vena Cava dresses that go unworn and just have a regular party in my closet. This needs to be amended.

5. Play pretend.

I somehow weaseled my way into a highly sought-after creative fiction course on fabulism, which focuses on fantasy writing such as that by J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll. Even if Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland wasn't a cinematic breakthrough, I couldn't sit still afterwards because I was too busy trying to figure out how I'd fare in Wonderland. Is that silly? I mean, I'd love to come across a fluffy cat that appears out of thin air as much as I'd enjoy pouring myself some tea and finding a dormouse in my mug. It would be spectacular. I feel like when writing, as a twenty-one year old girl, I'm so focused on impressing everyone and their mother that I forget the enormous value of my imagination in the process.

4. Move to France, even if for two weeks.

Everyone — well, mostly my parents — thinks that this is some big pipe dream, but I've opened a savings account and will book a flight upon graduation. I have to. I don't know why I'm so madly in love with this city, but there's something inside me that keeps insisting that living in Paris is something I must do, without a question. Plus, I've taken French for four years because I've always known that one day, I'd eventually have to bargain down the price of a wheel of Brie.

3. Prepare.

I need to find a job and for that, I'm going to have to practice my interview skills. On the bright side, I can polish my resume while sitting beneath a gorgeous inspiration board like this one. I didn't want to throw in a picture of me, curled up and crying hysterically, at the moment I realized that I said I have impeccable grammar when asked about what sets me apart from other candidates. (This is a true story). (...good grammar is seriously underrated).

2. Manger des macarons!

From Laduree, naturally.

1. Be awesome...

...even if I don't get a job offer before graduation and have to sit behind a little crêpe cart in a seedy part of Paris. The seedy part of Paris is probably nicer than the seedy part of Poughkeepsie, anyway. It would also mean that I have a large supply of Nutella and no one to stop me from eating all of it. Awesome? I believe so.

[photo cred to mskstreetfashion.ru, We Heart It, Oliveaux, Oh Happy Day!, Daffydil]  

The Perfect Skirt

I've always wanted to look like I stole a nap in a flowerbed 

and took half of the blooms with me when I woke up.

[photo cred to We Heart It via French by Design]

Kitschenware

I used to have the biggest fascination with Russian nesting dolls. At my grandmother's house in Queens, I would take the dolls apart and line them up in height order. The edges of the doll halves had to be perfectly lined up, because I was a special kid and that's just what I did. With sentimental memories like these, it's no surprise that I can't get enough of Anthropologie's nesting doll-inspired measuring cups and spoons. I love the unabashedly colorful, intricate patterns that are just kitschy enough. They're charming, elegant, and so damn cute that if you used one as a pet bowl and stuck a kitten next to it, the world would explode from sheer adorableness.

Grey & Red

I've completely fallen for the rich and elegant color palette of Madewell's holiday collection. I'm already a sucker for anything even closely related to grey, but combine it with blood red and I'll be head over heels. You could paint a rock with silver and red stripes, give it a French name, and I'll be sure to adore it for the rest of time. Muted neutrals, such as nude and chocolate brown, heighten the class factor and add a much-needed dose of subtlety while still allowing the Christmas vibe to shine through. I love how the pop of red, even when playing just a small cameo, elevates a look to something festive and special.

Now that finals are finally, finally over, I spent my weekend sharing secrets over tea in the basement of 30 Rockefeller and reading delightfully enormous issues of fashion magazines until all hours of the night. I kept telling myself that after I finished my work, I'd finally meet up with old friends over coffee and Baileys, but really, I keep curling up in bed with December's issue of InStyle. How was your weekend?

Kate Spade Does Bryant Park

Condé Nast is a hop, skip, and one very crowded intersection away from Bryant Park, so I used my lunch hour to stroll through the holiday shops with a friend. It's blustery and bitter in NY, and as I began to regret my outdoor stroll, I spotted an igloo. Not just any igloo, either — an igloo decorated with bubbles. Clearly, this was the best kind of igloo. And then I realized that it was a Kate Spade igloo, and everything was over for me. I was dunzo. What girl with a very public affection for anything adorable can resist Kate Spade AND an igloo? (I might mention here that the igloo was heated very well). I'd also like to apologize for using the word "igloo" eight times in this paragraph, including this sentence. In my defense, there's no good synonym.

The Kate Spade igloo proved to be as whimsical and darling as expected. It offered a small selection of handbags, but focused mainly on paper goods and winter weather accessories, such as thick scarves, hats, and mittens. I found one of the Book of the Month clutches, which had the Great Expectations cover, and I caressed it lovingly before turning away and crying into my hat. It was such a lovely experience, though, partly because its existence was a complete surprise and partly because it was just so fantastically Kate Spade: cheeky, bright, and cheerful.

[photo cred to Tim Gibson and Bryant Park]

Les Macarons

A lovely pairing to brighten up this bitterly cold Tuesday. I briefly considered writing this post in French, but then I realized just how irritating that would probably be (plus, I'm too lazy). I've written seven papers, two of which are in French, and if I don't get either a pile of macaroons or adorable nude suede brogues sometime soon, my head is going to pop.

Hope your Tuesday is splendid!



[photo cred to Chachahavana]

Book of the Month

Kate Spade's new Book of the Month clutches have a special place in my heart. I taught myself how to read in kindergarten and promptly memorized an entire book (Tiger Is a Scaredy Cat, also known as the greatest children's book known to mankind). I recited it to my mother, who was impressed but, to be honest, a little alarmed. What five year old memorizes a book? This one, apparently.
My parents should have seen the demise of my pre-med concentration before it even started, because now I'm an English literature major. Of course I want to own this clutch (and really, I'll do anything that Natalie Portman deems appropriate). It goes without saying. Sure, it's a little superfluous seeing as I have books falling out of my purse at any given moment anyway, but look at the striped lining! The nuanced and perfectly appropriate cover design! Would this not make the most perfect conversation starter at an awkward party where you know no one but the hostess? Or, if you run into an ex, you could open it and pretend to be so engrossed that an interruption would just wouldn't be tolerated.


Plus, who didn't have a whopping crush on Jay Gatsby?

Unfortunately, the cruel price tag that accompanies it means that in the near future, I'm going to tuck a credit card between the pages of Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, stick my phone in my back pocket, and rock my own Book of the Month Club.

[photo credit to MTV Style]

Friday Moments

The recipe for productivity: miniature roses, a cheery desk lamp, a Christmas tree made of — oh God, are those feathers?! Be still my heart. Plus, I love the pops of chartreuse in the inspiration board. I'd might as well be honest about my to-do list this weekend and cross out the "write four final papers," replacing it with "spend an obscene amount of time playing on Pinterest." Oh, did I say Pinterest? I mean the greatest thing to happen to my weak spot for design/fashion/adorable things since kittens were invented.

[photo cred to Interior Porn via Rue Mag]

Dear December

Once upon a time, the brilliant photographer Ditte Isager climbed a few mountains in Utah and captured these breathtaking shots for Banana Republic's holiday campaign. At around the same time, I was walloped in my head by the realization that turquoise looks as gorgeous as ever when paired with touches of red, pink, and silver. I've always thought of turquoise as an extremely fussy shade of blue-green that only looks best with neutrals, such as white and silver. Even gold can get a bit kitschy. Yet with a ribbon of rose, turquoise becomes completely transformed, almost elegant. I adore this color palette — it completely exemplifies just how simple it is to change something with a few creative and inspired touches.

Soap & Paper

I wandered into Soap & Paper Factory's stall at the Grand Central Christmas Market on a whim. I swear I didn't mean to stumble into the money pit of all things beautiful and fragrant, but then again, I have such a penchant for all things beautiful and fragrant that this was bound to happen eventually. I'm not sure which snagged my attention, the pretty packaging or the wafting scents. Then I spotted drawer liners, and the gift radar in my head whirred a bit before screaming "MOTHER. MOTHER. MOTHER." My mom has a thing for anything luxurious and typically useless, and what do drawer liners do? They sit in a drawer, look good, and smell like flowers. I wish I could find something like that in a job description.

I bought her a pack of drawer liners in the green tea scent, and it smells so good that I almost want to keep it for myself. But I can't — right? On the bright side, I can "hide" it in my drawer until Christmas so that my mother won't find it and my sports bras will become tea-scented sports bras. And everyone knows that tea-scented sports bras are way better than unscented ones. If you have someone on your list who doesn't treat themselves to the lovely, however frivolous, things in life, these drawer liners are the perfect gift.

Holiday Fever

 

Now, after a long, relaxing Thanksgiving weekend filled with late night drinks with old friends and dainty cheese flights of Taleggio, Gouda, and English Cheddar, I can unabashedly blast my Christmas music — my favorites are Bing Crosby and The Carpenters. My house is decked out in gold and white, with ribbon and lights wrapped around the banister and a glittery, snow-covered Christmas village in the living room. This editorial from J. Crew, though, inspires me to incorporate other hues, perhaps silver and the softest rose. I love that they used Confetti System to decorate; what could be more festive and appropriate for the holidays than bright, whimsical tassels?

Lanvin Loves H&M

It's retro chic and back to the '50s this winter, according to the looks from the Lanvin ♥ H&M collection runway show. I'm usually wary of wearing both a bright lip and accentuated eyes, but these are subtle enough that I think I could take the plunge. I think it's the fact that everything else is just so groomed and polished, from the perfectly arched eyebrows to the flawless complexions. I'm back in New York for Thanksgiving, and I'm so incredibly pleased to be going to get my eyebrows waxed in about two hours because well ... they need it. Plus, the timing is perfect to try out this new look for Thanksgiving dinner. With lips like these, no one will suspect that I'm the one swiping all of the cranberry sauce.


I had the most awful time getting home yesterday. The flight was ideal, particularly for Chicago — an hour and a half long, no layovers, no delays. My sister and I arrived with an hour to spare, and as we were checking our luggage, I realized that my ring was missing. This isn't just any ring. It's a silver snake thumb ring that I found for five Euros in Rome, and I'd worn it every single day since I was fifteen. My dad had mentioned that he thought thumb rings were the tackiest jewelry on the planet, so this was my own personal and very tame teenage rebellion. After going through security, I emptied my bag on a chair to search for this ring, which was nowhere to be found. I crumpled up on the floor of the airport, sobbing while my sister tried frantically to console me. I  eventually collected myself, sulkily refused to wipe the trails of mascara running down my face, and left the terminal to go back to the curbside check-in, but the ring wasn't there either. I gave it up for lost, miserable and furious that I didn't take better care of it. Later that night, though, as I wriggled out of my jeans, my ring flew into the air. I've lost some weight (particularly in my hands, for some reason — is this not the most pointless place to lose weight from?) and as I was pulling my pants on yesterday morning, my ring had slipped off and settled comfortably in the pant leg of my Earnest Sewns. The moral of the story is to buy a reaaaaally awesome present for my little sister, who put up with the weepy, complaining, and utterly despicable me like a champ.

[Photo cred to French Vogue]

Do You Rue?

 Because I truly do! The Holiday Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Rue magazine is now available, and I can't get enough of the gift guides and the gorgeous editorials. These shots are my personal favorites. A few feathers, a little bit of lace, and a gutsy shot of cobalt make for what is — in my opinion — the perfect New Year's Eve ensemble. I feel like glittery sequins or beads always come to mind first where New Year's fashion is concerned, but feathers? Genius! Plus, I love the extra touches: blood-red nails, a sparkly cuff, strappy sandals, that incredible view. Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve yet? I feel like I'm going to dream big, but actually find myself with some close friends, sipping Baileys and coffee at a bar on the Hudson River and counting down...

[Photo cred to Erin Hiemstra for Rue No.2 via Coco+Kelley]

Toasty Tunics

I never know what to wear for Thanksgiving — jeans just don't seem dressy enough and are far too restrictive, while a silk dress will inevitably be crumpled when I curl up on the floor to nap in between the turkey course and dessert. Plus, heels are superfluous because they'll be kicked off at the door, relatives having ruled in favor of the spanking clean hardwood floors. These tunic dresses by Toast, then, must have been designed for this exact occasion. There's no need to unbutton your pants if you're not wearing any, and the addition of cozy leggings and thick, patterned slipper-socks make this a complete and perfectly appropriate outfit. The best part? Wearing something as deliciously soft as this renders the blanket for the post-turkey nap unnecessary. Because you're wearing one.

Marvelous Weekend

This is my last autumn weekend at Northwestern. I've considered sitting on the rocks by Lake Michigan and wallowing; this happened yesterday in particular, when I had to don a purple cap and gown for my senior portrait. Instead, I'm going to make this a marvelous weekend (don't you love all of the vowels in "marvelous"? Or is it just my own little obsession with words?). Tonight, I'm meeting several different groups of friends for drinks — I'm a newly-minted twenty-one year old, so I'm probably going to say "I'm meeting so-and-so for drinks" for the next three years. Even if we're actually going to brunch.

Here's my recipe for a marvelous weekend:

Step one: spend a very long time lounging around bed in these pajamas. I love my bed, but I don't think I spend nearly enough time in it. Have a cappuccino, which is something I don't usually indulge in during the week. Maybe eat some bacon with your morning omelette. Read a magazine and listen to holiday music.

Step two: light a winter-scented candle, my favorite being Voluspa's Frost Pinecone scent. Think about all of the delicious food that's just waiting to be gobbled (awful pun, I'm sorry) next Thursday. Call a friend. Pretend to study, but actually check your favorite blogs compulsively. Think about outlining your final papers. Do anything else instead. Slip into this sweet dress and invite your best friend over to drink some peach champagne.

Hope you have a marvelous weekend!

[Photo credit to Amanda Nisbet Design via Love. Obsess. Inspire.; cappuccino via And Flowers Pick Themselves]

Confections

It's just as though Kate Spade knows how to design happiness: a dash of confetti, a sprinkle of gold. I don't even need a thermos, but do I care? It's almost as though the other pieces would be so incredibly lonely without it that it would be a true travesty to not get every single one of them. If I wasn't twenty-one and expected to have an smashingly inebriated New Year's Eve, I would throw a classy party and serve mini quiches and sip hot toddies all night — using this set, of course. Instead, I'm probably going to drink beer and wonder about whether or not I'm going to find a job come June, because that is what college seniors do. On the bright side, though, Kate Spade gives me a world of glitter to look forward to.

Smitten with Mittens

Holiday gift guides abound in my inbox and on some of my favorite blogs (such as Creature Comforts's Gifted Magazine). These garlands, which are featured in Anthropologie's awesome holiday video Trim (found here) jumped off the screen and into my heart. I have no idea what I'd do with them, but I'm a sucker for anything colorful and anything from Anthropologie's home section. Plus, how adorable are those mittens?

Why Not...

...wrap yourself up in soft, sumptuous shearling?

Typeface Maps

How fantastic are these typeface maps by Axismaps (via Fast Co Design)? I love how they include the different neighborhoods, which is especially helpful in Chicago, where all of the neighborhoods blend in and overlap. They're hand-drawn, too, which makes the detail in them that much more incredible. So far, only Chicago and Boston are available, but New York City, San Francisco, and Washington DC are on the way. Of COURSE it doesn't matter that I only go to San Francisco once every few years.