Bandage for a Steal

My mother and sister actually tipped me off to this one. They know how obsessed I am with the BCBG Max Azria bandage skirts, pictured above and obsessed over in this post. I think they're lovely, particularly how they hug in just the right spots while allowing some give in the wrong ones. Plus, I'm a perennial sucker for ombré -- it's like tie-dye for grown-ups. Imagine, then, my glee when I was presented with this very similar, very affordable version from Express.

Sure, the shade of the second strip of color befuddles me a bit (it looks too icy compared to the other hues). Yet this skirt is also a fraction of the cost of the first, while the difference between both is far from obvious. The gradient, the shape, and the practicality are nearly enough to reel me in, but the pretty, pretty price ($59.50) are what makes this impossible to resist.

Monday Morning (round two!)

Sue of The Zhush suggested that I mention the Condé Nast Café. It reminds me of a college dining hall, but in a graduated form - not unlike going from my grade school lunches (eaten at the desks in our classrooms because the school couldn't afford an actual cafeteria) to the real-deal cafeteria of my high school (benches? An outside patio?). You would think that the models, editors, and writers that inhabit the building would immediately float towards the salad station (I thought so, at least), but most people tend to eat sandwiches. It took an unfortunate trip to the salad station to realize why: the salad station sucks. Granted, I hate salad unless it includes something fat-laden to weigh it down, but this was truly terrible. On the bright side, the sushi bar that pops up every other day is fantastic. They offer brown rice, which is a huge plus. On another note, the tomato soup has also been a happy find (all credit due to one of my intern friends). Now let's talk about the sandwiches.

I consider myself something of a sandwich maven. I make them. I eat them. I love them. The cook was mildly alarmed by my request for mustard on my tuna sandwich (is that weird? They do it at Panera), but otherwise, he's been cheerful and always gives me an extra pickle. The seating area is very futuristic and was designed by Frank Gehry, which makes sense when you spot the wavy glass partitions and clean lines. For a moment, I thought I was in Epcot. The space is a little cold (figuratively and literally), and it's awkward to have to wear my leather jacket while eating a tuna sandwich (which stains, apparently). I feel like a couple of throw pillows could really add to the ambiance. I understand that fabric is the least practical thing to add to a dining area, but the cafe feels quite sterile and chilly. I feel uncomfortable there, which is why the other interns and I have made a habit of quickly purchasing our food and eating it out in Times Square, where there are tables and chairs set up in the middle of Broadway.

In honor of all of the Frank Gehry in the Condé Nast Café, I dug these earrings up from the heart of the my second dresser drawer. My parents gave them to me as a Christmas-Easter-next-three-birthdays gift, and I've hardly worn them since then because a) I don't really wear jewelry and b) I have no where to wear them because I'm twenty - where the hell am I going at this point in time? Now, as it turns out, I work at a beauty magazine. I was thrown $100 worth of beauty products and told to wear all of them (first reaction: "Will I be fired if I don't?!"). The natural next step was to wear jewelry. I own this pair of earrings, a pair of diamond studs, and a pair of zippers earrings (a look that quickly devolves when someone tries to "unzip" my ears). Naturally, these have saved my life:

Available here, they're understated and unique at the same time. I'm not a fan of hoops, but the curves of these allow me to get some shine without having to detangle my hair from them. I love to wear them when my hair is curly, because they blend in with the waves and are that much more subtle. Rediscovering these was so worth the very scary dive into my dresser; they add a good dose of class to a simple dress and flats, and the silver looks so fantastic with a swipe of red lipstick (compliments of the beauty closet). Do you have any older pieces that you've rediscovered recently? (Personally, I love how it feels like getting something new without having to pay anything).

[photo cred to AmateurGourmet]

Monday Morning

I apologize for the sparse updates - my commute to NYC is hellish and I sleep during most of it. I absolutely love my internship at Allure, though; I learn something new every day and particularly enjoy having a security pass for the Condé Nast headquarters in Times Square.

I bought a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti peep toes. They're lilac and have enormous platforms, so there's a good chance I'm going to topple over while wearing them. Unfortunately, they were only available through a Ruelala sample sale, so I can't seem to find a photo of them. During my hunt, though, I stumbled across this sweet duo:

Typically, I'm not partial to anything that matches perfectly. I like when there's a working relationship between two pieces - they complement one another, but manage to avoid looking like a set. These broke my rule. Wouldn't they look awesome with a short black dress for a night out? I love that black patent perfectly grounds the python print and puts a spin on two great classics. On the other hand, I would wear these with a flowing white dress:
The bright, spunky hues are perfect for the summer, and the embellishment is beautiful. They somehow manage to back away ever so carefully from gaudy (as I usually tend to find gemstones to be) and towards elegant. The best part is that I'd want to wear the pieces together instead of separating them and trying to find some way to incorporate each one on its own.

Actually, the real best part is that they're available here, where many of the Summer 2010 styles are marked down. And with that, my dears, we start off our week!

MadeSOwell

Lovely things about my internship:

a) I shared an elevator with Anna Wintour this morning.

b) She scares me.

c) I'm so happy I ditched dentistry in favor of magazine editing.

Madewell has recently debuted an online store that offers a fresh twist on J. Crew style at prettier prices. In particular, ruffles boosted simple vests and dresses, giving them a more stylish and upscale edge. They also update J. Crew staples and put a youthful spin on classics. My two favorite picks?

Both available at Madewell online, these pieces keep ruffles from looking too girlish by letting them act as details instead of the main event. Both beg to be belted - the first with a skinny belt and the second with a thick, masculine belt to up the androgyny factor. Even better, they're affordable for the subtle touches that they lend to any outfit ($62 and $88, respectively). Thus begins my torrid love affair with Madewell.

Monday Morning

Today is my first day at Allure. I hope I don't do anything stupid, which includes a number of things that will probably happen anyway. Plus, I'm already intimidated. When I'm intimidated, I become even more awkward than I already am, and when I get awkward, all of the blood rushes to my head and I reconsider the necessity of the situation. And then I run -- I'm all about flight as an emergency response. Unfortunately, if I run from the Conde Nast offices, I'm also running away from increased probability of finding a job upon graduation next year. Decisions, decisions.

On the bright side, my internship gives me a reason to purchase pieces such as this BCBG bandage skirt:

I could see it a) without those awful shoes, which would stumpify my legs in a heartbeat, and b) with a light chiffon tank tucked into it. I have a weak spot for ombre, and it looks stretchy enough that I could yank it down to an appropriate length. I hate pencil skirts because though they're super flattering, I find them impossible to walk in; this seems like it would be a perfect substitute.

Have a beautiful start to the week, everyone!

[photo cred to Wired New York]

Summer Dreaming

Finals are upon me, so I figured I'd take a short break before my last one and pretend that instead of being trapped inside with eighteen shmillion flashcards (the only way I actively study) on this rainy day, I'm actually sitting in a swinging chair on a sunny dock in Westhampton. Doesn't that egg-shaped chair look delectable? Lemonade, fresh air, warm breezes, splashing in the blue bay... come to mama.

[photo cred to anthopologie]

Weekender

I won't be posting links for the weekend because I have two exams and two papers due early next week. However, I feel as though this photo would appropriately express my feelings about finals, because my to do list has dissolved into this:

And on that note, I really hope you have a lovelier weekend than me!

[photo cred to realistic optimist and Hyperbole and a Half, respectively]