{20 items or less} black + white

jungle animal bralet, $32;  striped denim backpack, $68;  grid knit sweater, $30;

striped harem pants, $18;  canvas sneaker, $18;  lolli bikini, $170;

polka dot iphone case, $18;  geometric scarf, $20;  pencil skirt, $23;

round sunglasses, $24;  white denim jacket, $128;  geometric maillot, $195;  

chevron stud earrings, $14;  high-low dress, $98

{20 items or less} the oscars red carpet

two questions for you this morning: {1} did you watch the oscars and {2} what did you think?  i actually watched the entire thing, from red carpet to 'here's to the losers,' for the first time in many many years {thank you, mountain time zone!}.  that's six and a half hours of academy awards coverage. let's hear it for my husband, ladies and gents.
anyway, i don't know why we watched it all, considering we'd only seen one of the best picture nominees and all i really care about is the fashion pre-show... speaking of which, here are my favorites {and not-so-favorites} from last night's red carpet:

jennifer hudson in roberto cavalli; sandra bullock in ellie saab;  naomi watts in armani prive;

jessica chastain in armani prive;  jennifer lawrence in dior haute couture 

kristen stewart in reem acra {crutches not pictured}; 

salma hayek in alexander mcqueen;  melissa mccarthy in david meister;

helena bonham carter in vivienne westwood;  anne hathaway in prada

{photos via}

{20 items or less} st. patty's day

st. patrick's day is three days away, which means two things:
1. fun and pretty green things are calling my name, and
2. i will have a hangover on sunday.


and so below are 17 of my favorite green things that are absolutely lovely but will in no way cure a post-saint-patrick's-day hangover {enjoy!}:

 1.charmeuse tab-sleeve top, $24; 2.green bow skinny belt, $11;

3.ysl manicure duo {mint green shown}, $30; 4.linen scarf, $48;

5.green platform sandals, $45; 6.polka-dot iphone case, $40;

7. jeffrey campbell green lacy platform sandals, $128

 8.open stitch cardigan, $20; 9.shamrock frame sunglasses, $10;

10."drink me" wooden drink stirrers, $18 for 12;

11.sprinkles irish chocolate cupcakes, $3.50 {available march 2-18}

12.four-leaf clover rubber stamp, $5.50; 13.green stud earrings, $38;

14.green striped shorts, $88; 15.mint bowling bag, $72;

16.lime laceless canvas flat, $13; 17.kermit plush doll, $24

{20 items or less} barbie's birthday

today barbie celebrates her 53rd birthday {although she doesn't look a day over 25}!
i myself had only one barbie growing up {i was more concerned with stuffed animals and my little ponies}, but i did have a barbie corvette, and i certainly appreciate her personal style. and so below, in 20 items or less, is my homage to the birthday girl.


barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for fifty years... [she] has had over 40 pets including cats and dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and a zebra. she has owned a wide range of vehicles, including pink corvette convertibles, trailers, and jeeps. she also holds a pilot's license, and operates commercial airliners in addition to serving as a flight attendant.
{from wikipedia}

1.patterned gift wrap, $5; 2.keep calm journal, $9; 3.moschino shoulder bag, $224;

4.red peplum dress, $50;  5.dior cat-eye sunglasses, $295;

6.betsey johnson pink suede pumps, $150; 7.opi heart throb nail lacquer, $8;

9.trina turk pink enamel bangle, $98; 10.ettika pyramid spike pink bangle, $55

11.patchwork box sofa, $1750; 12.silver wall mirror, $649;

13.pink pendant lamp, $338; 14.pink translucent side table, $141;

15.floral arrangement, $94; 16.black & white striped rug, $150;

17.marble top coffee table, $329; 18.jonathan adler hot pink throw, $295

{20 items or less} 84th annual academy awards

the oscars were last night, and since i haven't seen any of the movies nominated for anything {unless you count bridesmaids?}, all i really cared about was the red carpet. i don't like to get catty {or at least i try not to get catty}, so i'll spare you my worst-dressed list {and my opinion of the dictator}. below are my favoritest favorites of the night:

1.gwyneth paltrow; 2.octavia spencer; 3.mila jovovich; 4.cameron diaz;

5.michelle williams; 6.emma stone; 7.emmie kemper; 8.jessica chastain

...and now i guess i should go see the artist...

{20 items or less} gift guide: the fashionista

the best thing about the holidays {besides spending time with loved ones and making general merriment}? getting dressed up for holiday parties! below are my twelve gift picks of christmas {all under $100!} for the fabulous fashionista in your life {or maybe just for you?}:

1.nail lacquer trio, $42; 2.chain & stone statement earrings, $72;

3.versace for h&m belt, $99; 4.rhinestone-encrusted iphone case, $98;

5.ridiculously amazing berry suede pumps, $99

6.givenchy enamel bangles, $68 each; 7.crystal reindeer ring, $75;

8.fringed wallet, $60; 9.hello kitty compact mirror, $35;

10.faux fur cossack, $45; 11.100 years of fashion illustration, $40

12.armani exchange oversized sunglasses, $65

happy shopping!

{thirty days of thanks} fall clothes

i do so adore fall clothes...lots and lots of pretty, cozy, snuggly layers...lovely jackets, yummy boots, thick socks, big sweaters, chunky scarves, mittens and gloves...so many ways to indulge all of my multiple fashion personalities....

1.faux-leather pilot jacket, $50; 2.fringe scarf, $22; 

3.fairisle long cardi, $168; 4.fingerless gloves, $10; 5.hiker booties, $179

 6.silk-cashmere wrap, $75; 7.suede clutch, $65; 8.jade epaulet sweater, $20;

9.orange floppy hat, $50; 10.colorblock booties, $165; 11.poppy glittens, $28

12.pompom cap, $58; 13.fox mittens, $29; 14.toggle cardi, $80;

15.leather bracelet, $12; 16.all-weather boots, $130;

17.cable knit pompom scarf, $78; 18.apsley parka, $598

{20 items or less} 63rd annual emmy awards

being a one-television household, we spent last night flipping back and forth between the emmys and sunday night football. while my fantasy football team was busy winning its second game, i was busy checking out all of the pretty dresses and killer musical numbers...


first, the fashion that made me happy:

ladies in red: 

1.sofia vergara; 2.lea michele; 3.sarah hyland; 4.kerry washington

black and white:

5.aimee teegarden; 6.kaley cuoco; 7.christina hendricks; 8.jennifer carpenter

jewel box:

9.elizabeth mcgovern; 10.emily blount; 11.jane lynch; 12.heather morris

the menfolk:

13.john krasinski; 14.nolan gould; 15.rico rodriguez; 16.adam scott

next, the moments i adored:

17.the opening number 

18.the michael bolton 3-way mashup

and lastly, a couple of things i could've done without:

19.the "emmy tones"; 10.awkward charlie sheen moment

{20 items or less} a missoni-inspired bedroom

well, friends, did you make it to target in time to snag any fabulous missoni goodies yesterday? i know i didn't! so in order to soothe my aching heart, i decided to design a missoni-inspired bedroom for my friend carolyn, using the incredible chevron bedspread that she already has as a jumping-off point...

1.diy headboard+otomi fabric, $295;

2.chevron duvet cover+shams, $147;

3.knotted felt pillow cover, $39; 4.vintage alarm clock, $30;

5.pendant lamps, $30 each; 6.mirrored side tables, $90 each; 7.gramercy sofa, $659; 8.flokati pillow, $30; 9.suzani pillow, $108;

10.silver chevron pillow, $42; 11.suzani rug, $1899;

12.lucite coffee table, $249; 13.streak-dye bowl, $6;

14.missoni for target pentagonal pouf, $100;

15.dressing table, $129; 16.missoni for target ceramic vases, out of stock {boo!}; 

17.vintage mirror, $79; 18.chevron curtains, $168 each;

19.paint color: beluga by behr