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]