summer shoes

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I just got an email from Soludos announcing their new Shibori line, made with authentic shibori pattern fabric imported from Japan. If I had not gone so hog wild last summer, buying four pairs (above) after seeing a post about them on Katy Elliot's blog, I would be so tempted to order at least four more pairs from their new collections! But 8 + pairs of Espadrilles feels excessive, even to a shoe hoarder like myself. 

According to the email, Shibori is a Japanese term for dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, compressing it or capping. I absolutely love these:

I also love these new vibrant Aztec inspired prints:

And while I have not jumped on the Ikat bandwagon when it comes to household textiles, I would gladly sport the trend on my feet with any of these beauties:

We'll see how long my willpower lasts. Their espadrilles look cute with jeans, capris, shorts, skirts and dresses, and are very comfortable. I highly recommend treating yourself to a pair!

Happy Spring!

NYE, revised

Happy 2012 friends!

 View just before midnight of The Grand Ballroom, from the balcony.

pre-balloon drop

A slight correction to my post about New Year's Eve. As I am known to do on a regular basis, I spent a stupid amount of time planning my outfit (dress, shoes, accessories - everything) only to change it all up completely the morning of New Year's Eve. 

I won't go into all of the issues we encountered at the Ice Ball at Statler Towers (though if you are really curious, see here) - I will instead say that despite my last minute, holiday weight induced last minute outfit change chaos, and the many Ice Ball snafus, I had a wonderful time ringing in 2012. 

I had a blast wearing  black lace, vintage rhinestones, fishnets (now apparently called "tulle net hosiery" - how classy), glittery nails, and peacock blue suede peep-toes all at once. So, a more subtle kind of garish than my originally planned outfit - but still garish nonetheless.

I took in the beauty of the recently renovated Statler Grand Ballroom and lusted after the chandeliers.

I was beyond grateful to welcome 2012 in the company of great friends, a handsome gent, in a fantastic city. 

Now, 2012, make me proud and show 2011 who's boss. 

wanna play dress up?

This year, Evan and I, together with a few friends, are attending the Statler City Ice Ball for New Year's Eve - I am so excited! NYE is Evan's favorite holiday, and, done right, it can be right up there with Halloween for me in terms of dressing up excitement.

 

Sadly, NYE planning usually ends up being an afterthought, after the all-consuming shopping/baking/DIY gifting and traveling of the Christmas season is over. We make plans to go out or go to a friend's house, I frantically scour my closet for something "festive", come up short, go out shopping, and get frustrated because I can't find anything that I like in my price range. And usually, the whole evening ends up feeling woefully anti-climactic, and I am left thinking 

" Its the Eve of a new year, for crying out loud!

A toast to new beginnings!

A retrospective on all the good things that transpired over the past year, and challenges overcome! 

We only have so many of these to celebrate in our lifetime! 

This holiday deserves a party dress and a venue worthy of it!

 Styled hair!

Eyeshadow!

Lipstick! "

... or, something along those lines.

So this year it feels good to start making plans early, and to have something momentous to look forward to. I am in the market for a new party dress - something a bit more festive than the  fairly conservative subdued work appropriate dresses I have stockpiled over the years. After 5 consecutive years of Fall weddings to attend, making due with what's on hand depending on what end of the size spectrum I happen to be on at the time, the Ice Ball gives me the perfect excuse to find something that will become my go-to fall/winter "special occasion dress".

I will be hitting up the local dress shops around Buffalo soon, but in the meantime, its fun to window shop online to see what the options are if I strike out. Modcloth is by far my favorite online resource. I've narrowed down the contenders on their site to about 20. Yeah, you heard me - TWENTY. I blame the fact that every day they get at least two dozen new arrivals in. Every day!! I can't keep up!

So, indulge me in a virtual game of dress up?

~1~

~2~

Breathtaking, no?
 You'll see that I have a bit of a thing for black lace.

~3~

~4~

~5~

~6~

~7~

Another fun place to look is Asos - if you have time to sort through the 100s of "body conscious" and obscenely short offerings. Some "longer", more "conservative" favorites:

~8~
Of course, now I cant locate this dress on the site.

~9~

^ A bit daring, yes. But I love it.

~10~

~11~

^ This one falls into the too short and too expensive category, but it is beautiful.

~12~

Just kidding on this one.

Sort of. 

Totally speaks to my inner crow though.

I'm holding out hope that ~2~ will come back in stock. It is by far my favorite. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve yet? Will you be shopping for a new outfit? Something with lace or sparkles? Do share!

xoxo

 

an essential fall tutorial

{Found via lark & linen}

This takes all of the mystery out of how to wear scarves in that perfectly imperfect, effortlessly stylish way - just in time for the temperatures dropping!

Happy Friday, and Happy Veteran's Day!