Fade.

I'm ready for a few more layers. Who's with me? 

This summer's heat waves are giving me the itch for fall. Leather, fur and cashmere here I come. 

Bottom.

This season's trend of the fancy pant has me in a quandary.

 On one side, I'm like, the statement pant. Hurrah! Prints and colors can be flattering on my bottom half if layered correctly. 

But then on the other side, I'm like, some trends are NOT meant to be attempted by anyone other then the leggy mutants on the runway. 

Maybe the trick is in lighting?

Seeing Spots

I'm loving the cheetah/leopard print craze going on every season now. It's a tried but true touch of glamour that can be a total disaster, but, when the spots align, it's simply beautiful. I especially love the colored take on prints from Blumarine's Spring 2011 collection. Of course, street style blogger, Tommy Ton captured gorgeous spotted ladies on the streets of the international fashion capitals. Even Freja Beha Erichsen looks so chic, in head-to-toe leopard, on the cover of VOGUE Brasil's March 2011 issue... as does the model from Givenchy's Spring 2011 collection. 

I'm going to grab my own touch of the wild-side with these Stuart Weitzman leopard print calf-hair platform sling-back heels from Bluefly. Shhh... They're on sale!

Brogue Behavior

Don't you love when a simple element of your ensemble can make you look both stylish and smart? It doesn't happen too often in the world of fashion, being that most people interested in anything sartorial or a la mode are considered vapid and highly unlikely to succeed in anything other then superficiality. Yes, I have endured both of these stereotypes in my lifetime (Try telling a finance or engineering major that you are freaking out about an upcoming exam. "Oh, what's MY major? Fashion Merchandising." Sighs ensue...), but, back to that special element. Drum roll please... The brogue, a strong oxford shoe, usually with ornamental perforations and wing tips, is the epitome of "smart dressing".

Photo courtesy of the Wall St Journal

Even the Wall Street Journal recently posted an article on the dapper style... I saw it in person, finally, last weekend in New York City. That marvelous celebration for Filippa's 25th birthday brought out some  truly stylish people, and Tom, my friend Eve's boyfriend, was rocking the style complete with argyle socks! Can you say, I DIE.