Monday Musings

Things I'm thinking about this morning (since you're all dy-ing to know): 

  • How da-da-da-da-dayum the weekend went by quickly 
  • How my biglaw office would react if I showed up rockin' an outfit like the one pictured below: impressed? unamused?not surprised? all of the above?
  • How much I'm into the Siriusly Sinatra radio station, which I cannot. stop. JAMMIN' to 
  • How best to celebrate Mochi's (my persian cat) sixth birthday this week - considering gifting him some cat vino since I think he's finally legal in cat years. Have any of you given this stuff to your cat and lived to tell the tale (is there anyone out there?!)?
  • How I might be overdoing it with my application of Colleen Rothschild's Extreme Recovery Cream, a recently discovered lotion that I've been globbering on a la Peg-to-Edward-Scissorhands style
  • How nothing tickles my pickle more on a Monday am than realizing there's a strong likelihood I'm an 80 year old trapped in a 27 year old's body!!!

Crown - Magnetic Midnight// Glitter Eyeglasses - Gucci// Striped Shirt - Veronica Beard// Pink Pants - Isa Arfen// Confetti Earrings - EachToOwn// iPad Case - Charlotte Olympia// Evil Eye Clutch - Poppy Lissiman// Turquoise Slides - Anthropologie 

An Ode to #FriYay, Haiku Style

Have I mentioned I'm also a poet? 

Finally Friday
Go cray! Cheat day! Treat yo'self! 
No bikini plans

Sushi Earrings - Venessa Arizaga// Fries Brooch - Shourouk// Silk Cafe Pajama - Karen Mabon// Straw Pizza Crossbody - Zara// Ice Cream Purse - Dolce & Gabbana// Veggie Burger Ring - Nadine Ghosn// Burger Bathing Suit - Bathing Belle Swimwear// Donut Clutch - Kent Stetson// Beer O'Clock Bracelet - Venessa Arizaga// Egg Sticker - Anya Hindmarch// Fries Purse - Gelareh Mizrahi// I Love Pizza Purse - Dolce & Gabbana// Hamburger Ring - Nadine Ghosn// Fries Bathing Suit - Bathing Belle Swimwear// 7-Up Purse - Anya Hindmarch// Buffalo Wings Clutch - Kent Stetson// Pizza Purse - Gelareh Mizrahi// Hot Dog Bracelet - Venessa Arizaga

In Defense of Bag Ladies Everywhere: Cuyana + Brian Kaspr

Bag Lady. Just the term (much like Cat Lady, which I also feel compelled to defend (excuse me for loving God's creatures!!!), but more on that another day) carries negative connotations. Whether the bags are literal and filled with junk or metaphorical and filled with feelings, you don't want to be a bag lady, or one who "frequently says "sha-na-na-na" during her travels" (according to Urban Dictionary). 

In my personal and very fortunate circumstance, bag lady is what my mother-dearest calls me when she sees I have acquired another purse, tote, clutch, or watcha-ma-call-it to store my belongings on my person. If someone has ever told you something along the lines of, "the last thing you need is another bag," then I'm afraid you're a bag lady too. But stop reading this instant if you think this is some sort of self-help piece to assist in disassociating yourself with the label. Continue reading if you want a slightly deranged yet uplifting mini-manifesto on a celebration of self: a celebration of being a bag lady.

For what better way is there to honor your bag lady ways than adding a new member to your bag band? From one B.L. to another, my recommendation this Thursday is Cuyana: makers of high quality, soft-as-butta leather goods. Pioneers in the "lean closet" movement (their motto is "fewer, better things"), Cuyana designs products that are so versatile and so practical that they'll be closet staples forever (maybe there is some self-help to this, after all). But wait - it get's better - because there's a human out there by the name of Brian Kaspr, a designer/letterer/painter whose skills take any-leather-anything to another level. His online shop offers orders for custom designs as well as some rad patches (oh yes you do need some stinkin' patches). 

You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'? Or should I say what I thought - because these forces combined made for a tote that ranks supreme in my bag lady book (see below). Gone be the days of bag ladies anonymous! 

A combo made in bag lady heaven: Cuyana's classic leather tote + some personalization pizzazz courtesy of Brian Kaspr. 

Q: Want to Help Me Find Something to Wear to a Mexican Lotería-Themed Party? A: You Bet Your Bottom Peso I Do

It's not just any Cinco de Mayo party - it's a Mexican lotería card party. How 'bout dat? Not familiar with Mexican lotería cards, you say? Well, how lucky for you that I'm in your life to impart such fun and mostly useless knowledge.

Lotería is a traditional Mexican game (very similar to bingo) that's played with a deck of 54 cards and a grid (tabla for those that habla) - but instead of calling out the number/letter combo in a lunch lady voice a-la Americana way (why we always so refined?), the announcer says a riddle to indicate which card has been selected. Apparently these riddles are most entertaining part of the game ("since poetic license is afforded to the announcer of lotería, the success and popularity of the announcer depend on his cleverness and style"). The player who fills up their grid first is the winner-winner-chicken-dinner. 

The images on each card (examples below) are iconic in Mexican culture - so when I heard that some party prodigy out there is throwing a Cinco de Mayo shindig and has assigned each guest a lotería card to dress up as, I fuh-reaked out (to put it mildly). A few (~50 or so) links later, I overdid with outfit options for a fab San Antonio friend who had been dealt the palm tree card. With all the incredible palm-pieces circling around the online retail merry-go-round lately (see some looks below), I think being #blessed with La Palma card means you've already won the lottery. 

Best of luck to the invitee who got the El Cazo card (literal translation - the saucepan), and someone (anyone!) please throw a lotería party and invite me. 

Lotteria Card Blouse - Alice & Olivia// Fringe Embellished Skirt - Lela Rose// Palm Leaf Clutch - Novica// Sirena Pendant - Etsy// Rafia Pom Pom Heels - Prada (via The Real Real)// Weaved Palm Headpiece - Etsy// Wrap Palm Print Top - Rixo// Palm Print Trousers - For Restless Sleepers// Pink Glitter Palm Leaf Earrings - EachToOwn// Palm Leaf Slippers - Charlotte Olympia// Palm Tree Earrings - Elizabeth Cole// Zipper Bustier Top - C/Meo Collective// Palm Tree Fringed Skirt - Marco de Vincenzo// Woven Heels - Schutz// The Lovers Clutch - Alice & Olivia// Banana Leaf Crop Top - Dolce & Gabbana// Palm Leaf Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Striped Skirt - Tome// Palm Leaf Heels - Charlotte Olympia

A Passion for Polka Dots

“Harvard won’t be impressed that you aced History of Polka Dots.” Remember those erroneous words? Uttered by (my legally blonde counterpart) Elle Woods' misguided college counselor? What said counselor didn't realize is that the polka dot carries a rich history, which has culminated in the print becoming a multifaceted symbol for lighthearted femininity on the one hand and 50's-housewife-nostalgia on the other. They're a complicated breed, not to be dismissed so easily. And frankly, I'm not too impressed by Harvard (so there, take. that.). 

As a born-again (see below) polka dot aficionado, I encourage you to rock the dot and join the ranks of women who have embraced the playful print. The roster includes some late-greats like Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Lucile Ball, as well as some of my modern-day fashion heroines: Gwen Stefani, Leandra Medine, Sienna Miller, and SJP. These icons have (in my humble opinion) elevated the polka dot above the help-me-I'm-a-domesticated-Betty-Draper-prisoner-of-misogyny associations of yesteryear to an empowered neutral (a la cheetah print, if you will) that pokes fun at its past and draws all the well-deserved attention in your direction (you goddess, you). Just don't overdo it with the face paint. 

Off the Shoulder Top - Forever 21// Trumpet Skirt - Saloni// Chartreuse Round Cushion Clutch - Charlotte Olympia// Black Gumball Drop Earrings - Suzanna Dai// Blue Fold Over Clutch - DVF// High-Low Ruffle Dress - Sandro// Headband - Dolce & Gabbana// Beaded & Rafia Earrings - Bimba y Lola// Bikini - Mara Hoffman// Rainbow Purse - WaiWai// Yellow Fold Over Clutch - DVF// Cap Sleeve Dress - Reformation// Shoulder Tie Bodysuit- Zara// Wide-Leg Pants - Oscar de la Renta// Pink Satin Clutch - No. 21

Yours truly, at her own birthday party, rocking a RBF and most likely displeased because the make up artist did not understand the face paint clashed with the main attraction: the polka dots. Lesson learned - always, always do a trial run before the…

Yours truly, at her own birthday party, rocking a RBF and most likely displeased because the make up artist did not understand the face paint clashed with the main attraction: the polka dots. Lesson learned - always, always do a trial run before the real thing.