roses are free

[free people sparkle sweater. f21 silk tank. ambiance apparel skirt. deena & ozzy pony hair bag. f21 boots. f21 necklace. vintage rings and bracelets.]

While in Charleston, D and I caught a two night Phish show at the North Charleston Coliseum (like I said before, he loves his jam bands), and even though I've been to countless concerts I sometimes find it difficult to construct an outfit that is both cute and extremely comfortable.  Due to the fact that I always dance my little heart out and only ever think about sitting during set break, killer heels and complicated dresses are out of the question.  This outfit was perfectly comfortable with it's loose fitting layers and boots that I could run in for miles.  More importantly, the show ended up being absolutely amazing.. I was even lucky enough to be handed flowers from the bass player, Mike Gordon, before the encore *eeeeee!!* 

xx

A

charleston

Charleston is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. for many reasons.  It's just one of those places where you walk the streets and become instantly inspired.  The old pre-civil war architecture.. the palmettos & mossy oaks sprinkling the landscape.. the array of boutiques, restaurants, & theaters.. the hole in the wall galleries.. the low country.. I love it all.  I was even tempted to call home and tell my family I had decided to stay for awhile - it's just that beautiful.  What cities inspire you?

xx

A

birds of a feather

Sorry I've neglected to post in so long - I'm just now returning home from an amazing weekend in Charleston (more on that later).  So, to make up for the lack of attention, I thought I'd shower you with some serious eye candy.  Lately I've been obsessing over these bohemian-glam feathered clutches.  They are the perfect statement bag for everything from skinny jeans and a boyfriend blazer to your favorite little black dress.  Definitely pick one up if you'd like to add a fun and beautiful piece to your fall wardrobe.

1. Feather Clutch Bag monsoon.co.uk 

2. ASOS Nude Feather Clutch asos.com 

3. Alexander McQueen Hell's Knuckleduster Box Clutch net-a-porter.com 

4. Franchi Feather Frame Clutch nordstrom.com 

5. Black Feather Clutch Bag missselfridge.com 

6. Mary Norton 'Bella Donna' Stevie Top Handle Pouchette bagborroworsteal.com 

7. Lanvin Pouchette Oulouette satin bag net-a-porter.com 

8. Adriene Brown Feather Clutch with Teal Feather mimiboutique.com 
9. Sybil ostrich feather clasp frame shoulder bag houseoffraser.co.uk 

xx

A

sounds from the front row

After all the madness that goes along with fashion month week, most people tend to completely focus on the amazing looks from the runway and forget about the other artistic elements that were meticulously chosen to make a show.  To me, a fashion show is like installation art - you're supposed to feel like you are completely immersed into another world.  Because of this notion, designers choose amazing music that goes along with the mood of their line, and StyleCaster has compiled a mix of some of the best songs featured in New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011.  You can download the mix here for free. I hope it brings a little inspiration to your day (and some great beats to party to this weekend)!

xx

A

flora/fauna

When it comes to my bedroom decor, I had a hard time deciding to either go more rustic or glamorous, so I compromised and went for a kind of enchanted forest thing?  Or I guess that's just how I like to think about it.

My newest addition to my little happy place is the Antlers Poster by Debbie Carlos.  She's an amazing photographer, and blows up a lot her prints to poster size - perfect for adding a dramatic statement to any room.  The only difficult part of her work is figuring out how to display it.  I debated between framing it or just using brass tacks, but then I came up with the idea to get it professionally glued to a large canvas.. And voilà!

xx

A

unexpectedly chic

3.1 Phillip Lim. McQ. Vanessa Bruno.3.1 Phillip Lim. Christopher Kane. Proenza Schouler.

Last year, I bought my first leather mini skirt.  I was hesitant to wear it at first (due to the fact that I don't live in the most fashion-forward of cities), but once I wore it out, I was hooked.  It was an unexpected element that made everything I wore it with feel edgy and eclectic.  So, naturally, this season I'm looking to add more unexpected leather items to my wardrobe.  I just received the most gorgeous leather jacket that you will soon be seeing me in, so now I have my sights set on some leather shorts.  They're highly versatile and perfect paired with anything from a slouchy sweater and tights, a little lace top, or a silk tank and blazer - think soft, feminine items.  Most of the leather shorts found online are rather pricey for a trendier item, so if you want to play around with them before you commit to the real thing, check out Zara, H&M, or Forever 21.  These can get you started.. Happy shopping!

xx

A

autumn inspirations

photos courtesy of gakatan

I stumbled upon these photos one day, and was beyond excited.  Not only did they feature Charlotte Gainsbourg (master of the Parisian cool girl look & a personal style icon of mine) in gorgeous black & white photography, but they also styled her with three of my favorite animals - deer, foxes, and crows.  At first I thought it was a crazy coincidence (a photo shoot styled just for me, perhaps?), but then I quickly realized the 3 animals were the main symbols of her critically-acclaimed horror film, which won multiple awards including the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.  So much to love about these photos, including lots of inspiration for October.

xx

A