Fashion Week Favorite: Karen Walker

I am 100% obsessed with the spring/summer 2011 looks from Karen Walker. Her prints are just so whimsical and sweet, and they pair well with the cheerful colors she chose to use in this collection. Forget sweater — weather  It kind of makes me want to skip over autumn and winter and just zoom into spring.

Camel fever has crossed from soft coats over to buttery leather bags. The shape of this bag is so perfect — I think I'm in love.

Silk + Corduroy

I have this fatal attraction to light, airy tops that are perfect for summer, but love them too much to limit them to one or two seasons. A new and original way to incorporate them into fall? Add a sturdy jacket and corduroys to the mix. Cords lend an edge to the innocence of a silk blouse and act as a convenient transition piece to warmer, more substantial autumn looks. I'm a sucker for these cinnamon cords from J. Crew, which complement pastels of nearly every shade.

On top, I'm feeling the soft pinks that manage to retain a light, sheer look while standing up to unconventional neutrals, such as the cinnamon (pictured above) as well as navy and dark grey. Although this particular Aqua blouse would look fantastic paired with simple jeans, corduroys elevate it. The difference between the textures lends a cheeky twist to a staple and allows me to wear my favorite tops well into November.

Sweater Weather

It might be unbelievably steamy in New York, but I can't help getting all dreamy about the cozy sweaters out for fall. It doesn't help that I'm a sucker for grey and dusty blues, but still — how ready are you for sweater weather?

[Ditte Isager for Day Birger Mikkelsen AW 2010]

Camel Code

I've fallen hard for the camel hue that's been taking runways by storm as of late. It's such a classic, subdued shade that's not exactly a neutral nor saturated with color. I love how innovative designers use other mainstay neutrals, such as grey and black, to offset the various tones of gold and brown. A soft, thicker texture to accompany camel is vital as well. My mother has a beautiful camel MaxMara coat; it's so soft and luxurious that when I was young, I loved to bury my head in it whenever she wrapped an arm around me. Designers have given an edge to camel by playing with the shapes instead of sticking with tried and true silhouettes. By combining camel with unstructured pullovers and cropped sweaters, the look walks the line between relaxed and sophisticated — perfect for chilly walks to class and lounging late at night with a new book.

[photo cred to J. Crew September 2010 via dress, design & decor, Elle Canada October 2010 via Smile via dress, design & decor, and Ylonka Verheul, Melissa Tammerijn and Marlena Szoka by Indlekofer & Knoepfel for Vogue Germany, September 2010 via A Glamorous Little Side Project via this is glamorous]

Vena Cava for Aqua

I actually clapped my hands with joy when I learned that Vena Cava will be doing a capsule collection for Bloomingdale's Aqua, available August 23. For affordable, classic, and well-cut pieces that the line offers, Aqua has been a mainstay in my closet. Vena Cava, on the other hand, does not have the same presence in the wardrobe. Although I fall time and time again for their cheeky French aesthetic, the prices run so steep that I only own a dress and perhaps a top by the line. Now, thanks to this wonderful collaboration, I'll be able to snap up the delicate and whimsical pieces I've been craving for so long. First on my list? The fur vest (shown above) -- Chicago gets nippy from time to time -- or the ruffled silk chiffon dress (not shown above, but the description sells itself). I can't decide, but as the collection is priced between $98 and $179, I may be able to wrangle both. Viva la collab!

[photo cred to Nylon magazine]

Italian Tuna Salad

I'm a huge tuna fan: I eat so much of it that the odds of having pure mercury coursing through my veins are extremely high. After awhile, though, and around the same time that hell experienced a large dip in temperatures, I became bored with the heaps of mayo I inevitably scooped into my tuna salad mix. This event, combined with a full raid on my fridge and herb garden, resulted in a light, Mediterranean-inspired tuna salad.

Italian Tuna Salad (four servings)
2 cans of white albacore tuna, in water
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 can of cannellini beans, strained and rinsed
handful of Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped
handful of basil, chopped
1/3 cup of shredded cheese (white Cheddar is a good pick)

Open cans of tuna and push down on top to squeeze out excess water. Toss tuna in a bowl and add every single ingredient. Mix extremely well and sample. Grin. This tastes fantastic on a slice or two of toasted bread, but if you have the time, the salad can be stuffed into tomatoes or red bell peppers.

[photo cred to Philippa Brathwaite, via Realsimple.com]